Anika approaches Kylo, trying to keep her voice low enough for Darial not to hear. "Is he going to make it?"

Kylo throws the empty needle that had once held sedative into the trash compartment. "Unfortunately, yes. I don't think it's lethal."

She looks back at Darial, still hovering nervously by the bathroom to keep watch on Hux. "Good… Maybe that sedative will last until we get him to a medbay," she realizes, feeling hopeful. A knocked out Hux was certainly much more pleasant to deal with.

Kylo, however, frowns. "About that…"

No. She doesn't like the expression creeping onto his face. He looks like he'd rather not say what he's about to say. No no… "About what?" she ventures.

"Maybe we should step outside?" he suggests.

Anika raises her eyebrows skeptically, but Kylo darts his eyes past her, towards Darial. It's a clear enough signal that he's trying to keep something from her friend.

"Yeah, okay," she agrees, worry growing. She heads down the ramp, pausing at the bottom.

The sun has already started slipping beneath the horizon, the sky lit up with brilliant streaks of color as day gives in. The planet is welcoming nightfall, a chorus of sounds coming from behind them. The jungle is waking up, though the strange noises sound distant. Some of them sound like bird calls, while others resemble angry chattering.

Here's to hoping we don't find out what makes that sound… Her attention is drawn away from the distant racket and towards the beach. The sand that stretches between their ship and the water is also coming alive, small crabs emerging to scuttle along. Anika can't help but watch them for a minute. Every so often they'll pause, waving their claws in the direction of the fading sun. Aww. Those are kind of cute.

She looks away from them to see if Kylo has followed her, finding him watching her. He looks away after their eyes connect, looking out towards the waves.

"So?" she prompts, curious but also dreading what he's going to say.

Kylo takes a deep breath, sitting down at the bottom edge of the ramp. "The Knights have encountered some…difficulties."

"Difficulties…?" Anika repeats.

He settles his arms on knees, dropping his attention to his hands. "There were a concerning number of blobs on the Supremacy…"

Okay… "And?"

"And they tried to take over the Supreme Leader's command center," Kylo concludes quietly.

...Well, fuck. "Did they succeed?"

He shakes his head slightly. "No. Between the Knights and Imperial Guard, they were held off," he says. "But it's caused a delay."

Of course it has. This is beginning to get predictable, isn't it? Anika could care less about the Supreme Leader's bad day. It's about time he should have to deal with the blobs too, and share in the headache they cause. She's less thrilled, though, at the complications it presents for their rescue.

"How much of a delay?" she asks.

Kylo only shrugs, still staring at his hands. Great. Anika wonders how so many blobs were able to infiltrate the Supremacy. Wasn't the Supreme Leader supposed to be even more powerful than Kylo? Shouldn't he have detected them? Maybe the old guy is losing his touch. She sits down next to Kylo, resting her feet on the sand.

"Well. There are probably worse places to spend a night," Anika suggests brightly, watching the tiny crabs do their bizarre dance as the sun continues its descent. It's nearly vanished at the horizon, just a peek of orange on top of dark water. Night is approaching fast now.

Kylo doesn't reply, so she searches his face. It's hard to read, a tangled mess of emotions just visible underneath a cold expression. His gaze is locked on his hands, but she can practically feel the tension coming from him. He's understandably frustrated, so she hesitantly tries again to offer a bright side. Think positive…There's got to be some good in this situation.

"At least Hux is knocked out," Anika says. An unconscious Hux is a quiet Hux…

"Your friend is upset about that," Kylo points out.

Anika frowns. Right… She should probably try to be more sympathetic about that. For whatever reason, Darial seemed to really like the guy. But really, who told the dolt to go wading into a body of water on a strange planet? He's lucky a giant shark didn't bite his ass.

"Okay, but he's probably going to be fine," Anika reasons. "I know this is, admittedly, kind of a low point…"

Kylo scoffs. "Kind of a low point? Our greatest weapon was just sabotaged, potentially destroying an entire base-"

"I really think that could have been worse, though," she mutters. It could have blown up before they got a chance to evacuate. Or, even worse, the blobs could have figured out how to use it against their fleet.

"My ship has been stolen," Kylo continues, irritation filling his voice. "My Knights are doubting my leadership, and the Supreme Leader is going to be furious when we return."

To be fair, isn't he always furious? She'd never met the guy, but he had about the same kind of reputation as Kylo when it came to being in a good mood. She abandons her attempts to reassure him, since he clearly wants to wallow.

"Right," Anika agrees. "Plus, we still don't know how to deal with the blob empire, and I'm assuming the rebels aren't going to take it easy on us just because we have an infestation problem."

Kylo glares at her. "Thank you. I hadn't forgotten about those problems either, but the reminder is helpful," he says, his voice entirely sarcastic.

Anika huffs. "I'm sorry. I was trying to throw a proper pity party. Isn't that what you wanted?" she bites back.

Her heart starts pounding at the look he gives her, equal parts anger and incredulity. Is this a fight? Are we in a fight? He opens his mouth to reply, but then seems to hold back. His eyes narrow, as he forces himself to take a breath before answering.

"Am I not supposed to be angry?" he asks, voice tight with restraint. "This is a fucking mess."

"Of course you can be angry," Anika replies immediately, shaking her head. She has to look away from his piercing stare, trying to look out at the dark water instead. The fading light makes it hard to see the crabs as they dance closer to the water.

"Go whack some trees with your lightsaber, if it helps," she suggests. "Or if you want to sit here and mope, I'll mope with you. I would personally rather not dwell on all the shit going wrong, but if that's what you want to do… I'll do it."

She's expecting him to snap back at her, but he doesn't. They're quiet for a while, as the darkness grows around them. Only the emergency lighting from the open hatch of the ship illuminates the beach now. Down where the waves grace the sand, the crabs are gathering. They look like they're feeding on something.

She isn't sure what else to say to him. She doesn't have the best advice when it comes to coping with emotions. Not thinking about things is one of her tried and true methods, followed closely by naps. Life got you down? Try a nap. Feeling sad or angry? Nap. Unsure what you're feeling, but know it's blah? Nap! She'd yet to meet a feeling she couldn't nap her way into denial with.

Something catches her eye, down by the shore. It's something different from the crabs, emerging from the ocean. There is barely enough light to see it properly, but she recognizes the shape. It's a small star, dragging itself from the water onto the sand. Well, that's pretty. This planet really isn't that bad. Plus, it had even shut up Hux for her! Wait, sympathy. Right.

"I'm sorry," Kylo says quietly, pulling her from her thoughts.

"Huh?" She looks back at him, but his face is once again locked into an expression that conceals what he's feeling.

"I know I'm not… the easiest person, to deal with," he admits uncertainly.

Her heart sinks, the bad feeling compounded by the fact that he avoids looking at her now. "You're not… the hardest person to deal with, either," she insists.

He gives a slight sound of disbelief. "You used to hyperventilate at the thought of talking to me."

"That's before I knew you!" Anika argues.

"Exactly," Kylo insists. "You were terrified of me. If it weren't for me pretending to be someone else, you'd still be terrified of me."

"Okay, but I know you now and I'm not scared," she points out. "I'm a wimp, anyway-"

"No, you're not," he cuts her off. "It's not just you. Everyone is scared of me."

"I'm pretty sure that's more to do with the laser sword, and the fact that you can use some magical power to throw people into walls and choke them," Anika points out.

He gives a forced mockery of a laugh. "Right. That."

She surveys him, and the way the pale light from the ship graces his features. Didn't he want people to be scared of him? She can't think of any other reason he'd wear that creepy helmet and disguise his voice with it. Yet, she gets the strangest feeling that he resents it somehow.

Anika thinks about how she'd felt when he had just been Matt, before she'd known his true identity. Without the scary mask and outfit, he'd been appealing. A little awkward, maybe, but likable enough company. It hadn't taken her long to find his awkwardness cute, and to think about kissing him. The urge comes back now, as her eyes linger on his lips.

Kylo's reputation, his abilities, are definitely intimidating. But beneath it all, she thinks, is something better than the fearsome Commander she used to fantasize about. Beneath his mask and all of his power, he is intelligent and resourceful. And surprisingly sweet, even shy, in many ways. It's in sharp contrast to those moments of intensity, where he takes control and reminds her of the masked Commander. He is certainly an interesting mixture of things.

She meets his eyes, and knows Kylo is aware of her thoughts. She hopes he can see it when she remembers how they'd fallen asleep together. How she'd coaxed him into holding her, cuddling in his bed. Anika lets her mind run free, thinking about the other things she could coax him into. The ways she could find to bring them together, the temptations that could make him lose control. Her imagination is all too happy to supply the images, and the ghosts of sensation.

Kylo's eyes drop from hers, as he stands abruptly. "You have a very detailed imagination," he observes. He sounds tense, for an entirely different reason now.

She sighs, letting the thoughts disappear. "It's a curse, really."

Anika looks out at the sand, where more of the star shaped fish have appeared. They're closer now, creeping up the shore. I don't even have an illness to blame it on this time. No, this time she's stuck owning her depraved thoughts. 100% authentic horn.

"Next time, we'll have to crash land alone," Kylo suggests.

She smiles, satisfied that she's at least tempted him. "Sounds like a plan. Maybe somewhere we'll need to huddle together for warmth."

"Be careful what you wish for," he replies. "We don't know how cold it gets on this planet."

The air is still balmy and warm enough for her to doubt that will be a problem. She stands, stretching her legs. Larger shapes are appearing in the waves, bigger versions of the stars already wiggling across the beach.

"It's kind of peaceful here at night," she observes.

Almost as soon as she speaks, one of the nearest starfish moves. Something shoots out of it, too fast to see clearly. Whatever the appendage is, it snatches a crab that has darted too close. While they watch, the crab is pulled back to the star, struggling. It disappears beneath the shape, its shell making an audible crunch.

"…Okay, I take that back." She stares at the innocent looking star, once again motionless. The only sign of what's happened is the slight grinding noises issuing from it.

"Maybe we should close up the ship for the night," Kylo suggests, backing up the ramp.

Anika doesn't move, fixated with disgust on the starfish. He takes her arm, forcing her to retreat with him. "I don't think they'd hurt us. We're a lot bigger than a crab," she reasons.

Yet when Kylo pauses at the top of the ramp, it is to point out at the water. "We're not bigger than those."

She squints, trying to make out what he's noticed. She can only see it when the waves recede, but there is something out there, a clustering of shapes. They're much, much larger than the one that just ate the crab. Well, fuckity doo. That's fantastic. It is beginning to make sense why no one had tried to settle on this planet.

Kylo flinches, pushing her back, at the same time she seems something move in her peripheral vision. She turns, looking down in horror at the thing now attached to his boot. It had just missed her leg, striking him instead. It looks like a tentacle of some sort, sharp hooks sinking into the material of his boot.

He flings his hand out, using the force, and the hooked tentacle is detached as the starfish it came from goes flying across the beach. They hadn't even noticed that one, right beside the ramp.

"Inside. Now," he orders.

Anika doesn't need to be told twice, retreating to the interior of the shuttle. The ramp rises slowly, Kylo hovering in front of the hatch. As it slides down, she can see past him towards the water. The large shapes are coming further up the shore now, and they are massive. The hatch seals closed, blocking off the view.

"Is everything okay?" Darial asks, looking over at them.

Anika gives her a forced smile. Totally okay! Just some man-eating starfish, that's all. "Everything's fine," she insists. "We're just going to stay in the ship for the night."

Darial narrows her eyes. "Why are you smiling like that?"

"Smiling like what?"

"That smile you always have when something is a disaster," Darial explains suspiciously. "Why are we staying on the ship?"

Anika frowns. "I don't have a disaster smile."

Darial leaves the refresher to march over. "You do too. It's this smile like you've lost your mind," she insists. "Tell me what's going on."

"The ocean life here appears to be nocturnal, and is feeding on the beach," Kylo explains tersely.

"…Oh," Darial says, her eyebrows jerking up in surprise. She looks relieved. "Is that all?"

"There are starfish the size of banthas coming out of the water, and they shoot hooked tentacles at you," Anika adds.

Darial goes pale, her mouth falling open. She doesn't reply, her expression conveying enough that words aren't necessary. For a moment, Anika second guesses if she should have volunteered that information. But then again, Darial had wanted to know what's going on. We'll be safe in the ship. Surely the things would leave them alone inside the shuttle.

Kylo walks over to the control panel at the front of the ship, examining the external cameras and sensors. "I think we should try to minimize movement," he suggests softly. "And keep our voices down, just to be on the safe side."

"What? Why?" Darial asks quietly.

He takes a seat, his attention still focused on the camera feeds. "They likely hunt by movement or sound. If we reduce both, they probably won't even notice the ship."

Anika joins him at the console, sitting down in the copilot seat. She knows if she stays standing, she'll end up pacing or fidgeting. Darial also takes a seat in the hold, looking nervous. She crosses her arms, laying her head back on the headrest.

They sit in silence, and Anika cranes her neck to see some of the displays. It's too dark outside to see much. She can make out a single, smaller star visible in the corner of the camera feed from directly outside the hatch. It's not moving, resting in the sand where the ship's ramp had previously been.

A noise catches Anika's attention, and she looks away from the dark videos of the planet outside. It sounds like Hux is stirring in the refresher. Darial has noticed too, her attention focused towards the back of the shuttle.

"Keep him quiet," Kylo orders, his voice a hushed whisper.

Darial nods, trying her best to walk as softly as possible back towards the refresher. She disappears into the little bathroom, and the sounds stop soon after. Figures the sedatives would wear off right now. Luck really has abandoned them.

The ship shudders suddenly, as if something has bumped into it, at the same time there's a loud sound from outside. Anika whirls back around in her seat, searching the dark window. She covers her mouth with her hand, as an extra reminder to herself to stay quiet. Her heart is thudding in her chest, accompanied by a bad feeling that she can't ignore. This is gonna be bad, isn't it?

Suddenly, what made the ship move comes into view. A limb of a starfish slaps onto the transparisteel, hard enough to make her jump in her seat. The pointed, fleshy arm sticks to the window, nearly covering it entirely, and she stares at it in horror. She leans forward, noticing something moving on the side facing them. It looks like little suckers, pulling and grasping at the surface. That is one gargantuan motherfuc-

"Stay still, Anika," Kylo breathes from beside her.

She tries to listen to him, freezing in place as the thing starts to climb the front of the shuttle. She swears she sees a rudimentary eye, some beady little pupil, before the flesh on its belly shifts and it is gone.

The mouth comes into view, or at least what she thinks must be its mouth. There's an opening that it presses something out of, a sac that spills over the window, swelling and moving randomly. It leaves a trail of mucus, searching the surface.

What the fuck is that… Anika wrinkles up her nose with disgust, cringing when there is a loud pop as the mouth detaches to recede back into the opening. Something shoots out instead, and she recoils when the tentacle-like appendage strikes the transparisteel. The hooks drag down the window before the whole thing is reeled back in. The creature moves again, seemingly bored with the lack of prey.

"What the fuck is that!?"

She turns at the exclamation to see Hux, apparently fully awake now. He has emerged from the refresher, looking like a cranky mess. He's staring passed them at the nightmare outside, his expression about as horrified as Anika feels.

But Hux's shriek was too loud, seeming to agitate the star. It reacts immediately, slapping itself more forcefully back against the window. The hooked appendage strikes again and again, before the starfish gives a great shudder and drops out of view. The smeared window is once again dark with night.

"Ren-"

"Quiet!" Kylo hisses, standing. "Hux-"

"What is going on!? Why are we still here?" Hux persists loudly, sounding like he's still out of it from the sedation. His eyes look bloodshot, his expression a pitiful mixture of confusion and fear.

"Armitage, you need to be quiet," Darial whispers urgently, trying to tug on his arm to get his attention.

Kylo isn't nearly as patient, however. When Hux opens his mouth again, he holds up a hand. The general's voice is silenced, cut off entirely. He gapes, voiceless, his expression transforming into one of outrage.

He doesn't have long to glare at Kylo, though, before something slams into the side of the shuttle without warning. One minute, Anika is sitting in the copilot's seat. The next, she's sent tumbling across the floor as the whole ship rocks onto its side.