Topic: Edge of Voyages - (Semi-Closed - Ask before jumping in)

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 09:49 EST

'Some birthday present...'

The woman known as Mileena Lakic sat in shackles, awaiting sentencing. She inwardly railed against the mockery of a trial. The judge and jury had been handpicked by the corp. and willing to believe anything that was shoveled in their direction. Anyone with an ounce of sense could tell she had been setup, but then this was a kangaroo court. The only thing that kept the executioners at bay was what they thought she knew. What she did know could prove costly to the corp., especially their acting CEO.

Mileena knew the S.O.B. could not be trusted. There had been something barely hidden beneath the surface. To the general populace, he was the golden boy, turning in record profits. To those in the trenches like her - like recognizes like. Some of the things she had found out were chilling - even to her. He was behind the funding for the black ops and some of the missions were removals of anyone that could expose him. Only his last mark was the one that could have damaged him the most. How she ended up with the data was extraordinary in itself. And the reason she was sitting here convicted of the murder of the CEO.

Mileena was defiant though. She refused to lie down and die like they wanted. He wanted to know where her data was stashed. She was smart about it. She had more than one stash and even then the data was outside the system. She had her contingencies in place. The real data was stored with a few other valuable items outside of the corp's reach.

All she had truly wished for was her freedom from this life. She was hardened by her childhood and her time in the military. Deep down inside of her, she just wanted to be someplace she didn't have to fight... didn't have to kill. Now those dreams were dying as she learned her fate.

10 life sentences to be served concurrently in the Saeder-Dyne Supermax prison on D?Nitoi. Mileena paled at that. She knew the reputation of the prison. She knew she would not survive there long on her own. Already the wheels were turning. It was back to the gang mentality and pray her skills would keep her alive. She had no hope of release and her life expectancy had been shortened considerably. The problem is the gang inside would be no match for the corp.

Mileena struggled against the rough hands that hauled her up and to the prison transport. She was determined to survive. She did not fight her way free of the streets of Bloodmire in order to roll over now.

It had been so long since Mileena even thought of her origins. Bloodmire was little more than a slum across the entire planet. The corps would drop their undesirables there to keep them out of sight. Her parents were just such people. She was an accident and her mother never let her forget it. Her father was one of her mother's johns and she never bothered to find out which one. When she was born, her mother saw a potential meal ticket and was determined to make sure she cashed in on it.

Mileena had other ideas. She grew up on the streets, learning how to survive. Even at age 13, she was taller than most girls and able to fight better than most guys. Her mother had encouraged her to pick pockets in order to survive those first few years. Her mother started pushing her to the streets and tried teaching her how to be a prostitute. She was having none of that however and got in with one of the gangs. She chose the beat down instead of sex. She was wild and had a natural ability to fight which earned her a rep on the streets. Even as she was being initiated into the gang, she fought back, taking down 3 of the members.

For a while her mother accepted her choice even if she resented it. Yet that did not last long before her mother was the pushing to sell herself. She hated that idea with a passion. It was the one area that even the gang had come to respect as she refused to be used that way. She still harbored a desire to be with a guy that at least respected her.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 09:58 EST

When she hit 16, her mother ambushed her with a john. By then she had a rep for being quick with her fists and she proved it then by nearly killing the john. It was also the last time she saw her mother. The gang was her family and she had risen to second in command. She had a knack for leading and she also had the respect of the leader. They trusted each other and had even started building a relationship. And yet, like everything else in her life, this did not last long.

A few short months after the attack, a series of hits were executed against the gang. It all started with smaller raids in their territory, each growing in size until the gang was cornered and mowed down mercilessly. She had been on a run alone when the hit occurred taking away the one person she had actually cared about. She swore she would find the killer and make him pay. And so she did. It took her sometime and planning, but in the end this kid took out the pro. However, she had been caught in the act.

She had found herself in shackles before a judge that time too. Then the sentence was conscription in the military for a term of 3 years. If she kept herself out of trouble, her record would be expunged. She had no choice but to accept. The military offered her a chance to be free and prison was a death sentence. She could survive on the streets with her skills, but in prison she would be anyone's meat.

The first couple of months in boot camp were the hardest. Drills were the easiest part. She was still wild and would find herself in and out of the brig. Anytime they attempt to beat the discipline into her, she would fight back always bringing at least one down with her.

She wised up about 6 months into her training. She knew the corp. wanted a puppet. What they got was a calculating fighter that learned to channel her anger into her training. She excelled in combat and tactics, gaining A-levels in all areas. Then came the pivotal moment in her career where she had been chosen for an experimental program to create an enhanced soldier. She was one of the first from her platoon to volunteer and be accepted.

Mileena allowed the military scientists to inject her with the experimental serum that was designed to increase her natural abilities to the highest levels that a normal human could achieve. Her reflexes were sharpened beyond measure and her endurance increased to withstand harsh environments.

The scientists whispered that only one other person had been able to withstand the treatment and he had proven unstable at best. The name Kohrliss had been mentioned a few times around her, though she pushed it from her mind at that time.

From there, her training accelerated. She started going out on solo missions where she had a better than average success rate. Then she was given a raise in rank and a unit of her own. Once again that fickle bitch, fate, stepped in.

Her unit was handpicked by the corp. She knew she couldn't trust some of them at her back, but she had little choice in the matter. There was one member, Sandral, that she knew was there to spy on her. She just didn't know the little wench was sleeping with the COO. She got to know and form a bond with the rest of the unit, though Sandral held back.

Then came the turning point in her career where a simple snatch and grab had unexpected results. The mission was to get in, grab some data and get out. Once the CO had the data, a cleaner team would be dispatched. Mileena had managed to grab the required data and then some. It seemed that their target was quite the historian on the activities if the corp. There was enough data to destroy several board members including the COO. She got the required data and then some. She managed to stash what she had and turned in the required data. This would prove to be her downfall.

About a month later, the team was dispatched to augment for the CEO. It was odd because of their training, but they followed orders. Once there, the trap was sprung. When it was all said and done, the CEO and all of the members of her team with the exception of Sandral were dead. Sandral was conspicuously missing. Mileena was injured and on trial for the murders.

The hiss of the airlock brought her to awareness as those guards grabbed her. Her final destination was the 'Pit.'

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 10:00 EST

(Based on Live RP where noted)

She continued fighting against the guards even though she was shackled. The profanities out of her mouth would make a Marine blush. They had enough restraints to get her into the Pit; she was already in rough shape and still fighting. It was a respectable fall to the stone floor below, being dropped through the hole in the guard office floor to the Pit below; an opening that slid shut even before she hit the bottom. She screeched and then fell silent as the impact knocked the wind out from her.

The inhabitants of the Slam were already circling, getting a feel for the fresh meat and such sweet meat it looked to be. She gathered her wits and look about warily. Damn shackles left her easy prey. Still she was defiant.

As one of the men came for her, a pair of arms snaked out of the shadows behind him. A hand clasped over his mouth and the other his throat and yanked him, soundlessly, back into darkness.

She jammed her elbow into the gut of another inmate approached her. She may have been shackled, but she wasn't giving up. The elbow makes the attacker bring up his meager lunch and he stumbled back. She growled and looked around like a cornered wolf.

There was a soft, crunching sound echoing from the shadows and the earlier inmate came falling out of the darkness in view of the others. She watched the space where the other inmate fell.

"(q) Think real careful about what comes next." A male voice said to the rest of the inmates as he stepped slowly from the shadows.

She was holding a defensive stance watching all of them warily. She waited to see who would move next.

He took up a casual seeming stance and watched them to see who moved, if any. He, then, took a step forward and that seemed to make up their minds for them and they started backing away. He slowly detoured toward Mileena. He looked down at her, eyes hidden behind dark plastic lenses.

She watched him move, very wary of everyone around her right now. She was ready to either fight or bolt, though fight was winning.

"(q) Get up." He spoke in that low, rumbling voice. "Unless you wanna stay here." His head turned very slowly to take in the rest of their immediate surroundings and the inmates.

She sprang to her feet, still watching him warily. He turned slowly back to her with his hand dropping to his side. Now there was a makeshift blade in it, maybe a torn and flattened tin can. She tensed seeing that blade.

He just reached to grab hold of her manacles, no hesitation, but not some jerky movement either. He didn't do jerky; every movement was deliberate and purposeful. She tried pull away from the grasp.

He lifted his face to look at her with a stony expression. "(q) You wanna get cut, keep squirming."

She held still and watched him wary. He slipped the tip of the can-blade into the manacles and after a minute, they snapped off and fell to the ground.

She rubbed at her wrists, "(vq) Thanks."

Without saying a word, he turned and started toward that same shadow as before. Adjusted eyes make out the rough slope that wound upwards toward the upper level cells. She arched a brow and took it for her to follow him. She knew she did not want to stay down on the lower levels.

Their way up was empty, either people had moved out or they stayed away in the first place, either way it was private. "(q) Mileena, right?" He stopped and took a lean against the rough wall, arms crossed and covered eyes pointed her direction.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 10:04 EST

(Continued from Live RP)

She tensed up again, "(vq) How did you know?"

"(q) Don't matter how I know. You got a lot of people pissed, so you must be doing something right."

She was still very tense. "(vq) You are?"

"(q) I am what?" He was of few words, though he hadn't spoken this much in a long time.

She kept her face neutral, "Who the frak are you?"

"(s) Kohrliss." That was all he'd say it seemed, "Price on your head is hefty." He put a foot up against the wall; knee bent and stared at her.

The face stayed neutral, though her eyes seemed to recognize the name, "(vq) Been framed."

"(q) Ain't we all." He opened his arms to gesture to what was supposed to be everyone there in the prison.

"(vq) I got nabbed for the assassination of the corp's CEO... Ain't my kill though."

"(q) Yeah, I know. Don't take a genius to see the set up."

"(vq) Plenty of sheep though believed it."

"(q) Life ain't fair." He said pretty evenly, "But those sheep do what they are told. Just like you did and you got nailed."

"(vq) Maybe..." She wasn't sure how much to say to him.

"(q) Get over it. Why didn't you be a good little lapdog?"

"(vq) And let someone control my life... I wanted things like my freedom and not have to run the streets." She frowned.

"(q) What I ain't gettin' is why they didn't put you down already." His voice was more social, but that may not be a good thing as he was becoming more inquisitive.

She looked around seeing if anyone was close. "(vq) They want to know how much I know... where their leaks are."

"(q) So insurance."

She gave a slight, barely perceivable nod.

"(q) Gonna be a time." He pushed off the wall. His arms dropped to his side and the can-knife was gone again from view, though where was the question. "... They ain't gonna care anymore."

"(vqw) Then I'm dead, but I'll take the corp with me." He could see she was deadly serious.

"(q) Gonna roll over now? Or you want to get out of this hole?" He walked past her, to a hole in the wall that let them overlook most of the Pit below.

She looked at him serious now, "(vq) Any place is better than here."

"(q) I got what I came here for, ain't plannin' on an extended stay. Didn't let them capture me just to check in."

She had the grace to look startled at that. "(vq) Why me?"

"(q) You think Saeder-Dyne isn't working angles outside your world?" He gave a humorless chuckle, "They tried the same **** with me and it got them a serious problem."

"(vq) And what happens when I'm not longer of any value?"

"(q)Darlin', You ain't value to me *now*. But you are *valuable*. You got no reason to piss me off or take a shot, I got no reason to care what you do. You ain't gettin' outta here though unless I help you, so that is where we stand."

She nodded, "(vq) Damned if I do, damned if I don't... I'll take my chances with you, sunshine." Inwardly she knew it was what she knew that interested him too.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 11:03 EST

She sat in the co-pilot's seat of the shuttle they managed to commandeer. It had been nothing for them to take down the crew and make off with the ship before the prison was even onto the fact that there had been an escape.

So why couldn't she relax?

Was it due to the fact that her *rescuer* had a rep and a kill count larger than her own?

Or was it due to the fact that they now had the corp hunting for them?

No, her biggest misgiving was putting her life in the hands of someone she did not know. She didn't know if she could trust him and yet here she was with him. At least on the outside she had a fighting chance. On the inside she was dead and she knew it.

No one really cared if she lived or died. The only one that she could rely on was herself. So why was it that it bothered her? She had gotten used to having a team again. She had grown used to having someone to rely on, that relied on her and she had failed them. Her eyes drifted to the moving stars outside as she steeled herself for the trip to Port Nealis.

She had plans now. The corp was going to pay in spades for what they did. She had enough evidence to destroy them. Sandral she was going to pay back personally, painfully. She gave a sideways glance to her *rescuer* in thought. Yeah, he might go along with the idea if for nothing else than to take a swing at the corp.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 11:08 EST

(Based on Live RP where noted)

Mileena was moving about the cabin, making sure the engines will hold out for the trip to Nealis. Luthur sat at the main chair in front of the console, following the nav-point Mileena had already set.

She was swearing up a storm. "Fraggers can't even keep a ship running right." She was in rare form and getting down and dirty with the engines.

"(q) We'll make reservations next time." Came the retort in casually spoken in low, rumbling tones.

She was trying to wipe some of the grease off her face, "Smart-ass." She settled into the co-pilots chair. "We'll make it to Nealis."

"(q) How are the weapons?"

"About the only things working reliably. Full charged."

"(q) I already hooked us clear of a freighter passing along the Frerran shipping lanes. We ain't gonna make it if we get spotted before we get to Nealis. These authority ships don't get outside orbit much."

"Once we hit the Lemasso System, things'll ease up a bit. Lemasso isn't known for it's law enforcement."

"(q) Tell me again what we're risking our arses for with this trip." He asked as he was making some minor adjustments to their course and hull integrity settings.

"Breathing space from the Corp. Stars End is a neutral system and other corp are major players."

"(q) Don't think the corps wont play nice together for big enough profit, girl. They'd gladly promise someone else less to save the kind of bounties they're offering on our asses."

"Except there are several governments represented there that jealously guard the neutrality of the zone."

"(q) Guess you gotta learn the hard way that rules don't always work out the way they are supposed to. Don't trust anyone or anything, girl." His voice deep and throaty as he reminded her.

She looked out the port. "Like you?"

"(q) Especially me," Whether it was a warning, a sign, an observation or suggestion, it was impossible to tell.

She was ramrod stiff though, "Thanks for the confirmation."

"(q) What's waiting on this planet you got us heading toward?"

"The insurance."

He was tempted to change course. With a crook of his neck, as if twisting out a kink, he spoke "(q) First place you head to once you're out is your only lifeline?"

She arched a brow at him. "Among other things."

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 11:22 EST

(Continued from Live RP)

He poked a few controls and set the autonav and slowly swiveled the chair to face her. Bare arms crossing over his chest as he regarded her behind those dark lenses, lenses she had yet to see past. "(q) I am gonna guess it isn't safe there still? I can't think of a logical reason other than that you want to take the chance of picking it up and taking the chance of Saeder-Dyne getting their hands on it."

She still had the brow lifted, "As you said trust no one. That and the Cult has been a pain in my ass of late."

"(q)All the more reason not to be carrying it around."

"I have a plan already. I'm just relocating it."

He slid from the chair, moved toward the small weapons cabinet and slid it open. Examining the paltry collection of basics, he replaced his tin can makeshift with a real knife and sheath, sliding them into his belt.

She shifted her eyes to the port again, watching his reflection in the viewport. He turned away from the cabinet. He didn't figure her for being worried about the blade now. He had no doubt she considered him the more dangerous of the two, between the blade and himself, "(q) You got plans after you grab your stash?"

She was indeed wary of him. She had no one to turn to should things go south. "Fade and find a way to make this do the most damage."

He shakes his head a fraction, "(q) Bad move, sweetmeat." Without another word, he walked back to the pilot's chair and slid into it.

"You got a better idea, sunshine?" She looked at her controls. She was very aware of him.

He turned a look toward her at the title, held it for several wondering seconds, then seemed to make a decision and leaned back into the chair. "(q) You just broke your first slam and you're jumping right into gear without seeing what kind of heat you got coming your way."

The lips quirked, "I'm planning on worst case scenario. I've only got myself to rely on."

"(q) My point. You think you're gonna be all "Knight in Shining Armor", lone-wolf, come to rescue the galaxy from SD?" He said with a low, rumbling chuckle. "(q) And do that all by your lonesome?"

She barked a bitter laugh then, "No, I plan on doing my damage and getting a bit of revenge. Blaze of Glory and all."

"(q) Bullshit." He said with conviction.

She arched a brow and did nothing to hide the bleak look in her eyes.

"(q) Lie to yourself, don't do ya no good to lie to me, girl. You wanted a blaze of glory send off, you wouldn't have sat on that insurance as long as you did. Ya still got the marks of the manacles on your wrists. You still got The Pit in your head and want to strike back."

"I want to strike back. I also know my chances for survival are nil."

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 11:25 EST

(Continued from Live RP)

"(q) Then stop playing that victim crap. Hide, watch, plan. What did they teach you in that squadron of yours anyway?" It was a rhetorical question, it seemed.

"Get in, get the job done, get out." She closed her eyes at them moment.

"(q) You forget quick. I'm guessin' you wouldn't last long with this latest brand of idea."

She cut a look over to him, "Why the frak should it matter to you. Figure once we hit Lemasso, you can take off and do your own thing."

"(q) You think I got myself invited to that slam for the stimulating company?" He slid to a stand again, starting to walk toward her, slowly, unreadably.

"I keep trying to puzzle that one out, trust no one..." She frowned, "Unless you want the insurance yourself."

He stopped just in front of her and slowly lifted his arms and extended them, placing his hands against the hull behind her, her between them, face to face. "(q) That what you think?"

She didn't let the surprise or other things register on her face. "I don't know what to think. All I know is the corp messed you up like I let them do to me."

"(q) That #$%^&* of theirs didn't last long. Then I find out they tried to spit out another one. And here we are." Yes, it was a pointed comment, he knew of her and where she'd be when they met.

"It was either this or get whored out." She could move her eyes even though she couldn't see his. "You know which choice I took. You know what they took from me. I want to take the sonava down hard."

"(q) How many more of you did they make?" He was speaking of her as if she was a model of some kind instead of an individual.

Her eyes hardened, here was someone else treating her like a thing. "My dead team..." She growled at him then.

"(q) Don't count. How many more of *you* did they try to make?"

"I don't know." She said with a certainty.

"(q) So.. for now, just you." He slowly pushed off the hull, to an upright stand again, but still face to face.

"As far as I know." She still faced him. "The program developed a side effect."

He seemed to be listening for her to continue. He wasn't really much of a talker, despite their recent back and forth.

"They are trying to find a way to make the subject dependant on the serum..."

"(q) A leash."

"A choke collar." She said softly. "(vq) That's the other reason for me to get the Lemasso."

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 11:27 EST

(Continued from Live RP)

"(q) I gotta wonder if they are trying to make more like you back there now."

"The formula I was given was deemed a failure. They want easily controlled."

"(q) They want junkies.. stupid move. Ain't got no real control on a junkie." It was he that turned away now, exposing his back to her, either it was a sign of trust, a challenge or nothing at all.

"The serum is a time bomb for me." She hugged herself then looking away.

"(q) What's that mean?" He stopped and with a small turn of his head back over his shoulder. He looked like he was hearing a distant sound than looking back.

"The withdrawal .. is painful." She looked back to him, she was given him a weapon he could use against her, "As in debilitating. My stash has enough to get me through for now."

He slowly turned toward her, a crooked smile appearing, but not a mirthful one, that likely was never the kind he ever showed. "(Q) You gotta be kiddin' me.. you're a junkie... That's just great.." He barked a low, hollow laugh, "Just ****ing great."

"You think I knew this little side-effect going in? I want to be off this ****!" She growled.

"(q) No, you didn't know #$%^&* going in.. just the corp's guinea pig." No recrimination there though, he knew most no one had a real *choice* once the corp had you and wanted something.

"Yeah, Just gutter trash they could #$%^&* with and no one to care if I should become a causality."

A faint beeping starting sounding from the controls and brought his gaze toward it, then his steps. "(q) We're getting close."

She turned to her controls. "Standard docking protocols, only they don't check creds if you know how to grease things."

"(q) Be my guest."

She slipped in her earpiece and got to talking with control. She hid well what she was feeling. She was a thing to even him. He watched and listened, if he considered her a thing, he'd have to consider the same of himself as they were in mostly the same boat, but they had their differences that made them separate.

Once they had their clearances, just silently went to work on getting the shuttle landed. He slid from the chair and went to the door, watching the seals cycle through their processes to make the environment secure. She watched the reflection warily again. She needed to get to her stash soon. She could feel the first signs of withdrawal kicking in, though she schooled her reactions to hide it. It didn't stop the bead of perspiration on her forehead.

He glanced slowly in her direction and nodded to the hatch and made to pull it open. She stood, keeping the pain off her face. Had it been that long already? She had next to nothing in terms of gear. Another thing she would have to fix. So he unsealed the hatch and let it hiss open, senses alert.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 11:28 EST

(Continued from Live RP)

She had swiped some unmarked credits to pay off customs. Better than using a cred stick at this point. She moved out the hatch and to the security checkpoint. A few credits later they were through. He stepped out and into the corridor, slowly looking each direction. She was moving to a seedier section of the port, away from the main concourse.

He took a last look and followed her, attention on those dark areas where he himself would pick to hide if he were going to plan something nasty. Her eyes were searching out those areas. Though she came to one hostel and carefully headed inside. He paused at the door, a last glance down the corridors and then he ducked inside, glancing to and fro.

The owner got scared seeing her, more so seeing she has muscle with her. "Lee...na?"

"Got my usual?" She tossed a few creds on the counter.

He leveled his gaze at the owner, not trying to scare the person, but not trying not to either.

The owner bobbed his head and got out a key..."here...you go."

She took up the key and headed down the hall. She stopped before a door and closed her eyes. The clenched fist was a good sign of problems.

When they were out of earshot, "(q) He know enough to keep his mouth shut?"

She mutters softly, "(vq) It's been 'impressed' on him by the Cult."

"(q) What does that have to do with you?"

"(vq) The tougher you are, the less likely he'll have the guts to squeal."

"(q) Anyone but him know you got this *usual*?"

She opened her eyes and glanced to him, "(vq) Only you."

He kept glancing down the hallway, alert. "(q) Lets get inside then."

She slotted the door open and carefully moved inside. After the betrayal she was hyper alert. Luthur moved in also, a hand reaching up to slip his goggles off one eye and looked around the room.

She made a move to turn on the lights. "(vq) I'm here to get my stuff and get out of here." Her voice was shaky now.

He replaced the goggle when he saw her making for the light, keeping one eye on the doorway and an ear for sounds outside, just a nod for Leena. She activated the lights and keyed the door to locked. After some maneuvering she came out with a couple of back and a lot of sweat. She sat down heavily on the bed.

Luthur slid the knife out of his belt and stood by the door, near the edge that held the lock, if SD had planned any of this and wanted to spring the trap, he'd be waiting and ready, a side glance to Mileena as she did her thing.

She didn't move for several long minutes. If this was a trap, she was very good at what she did. Except she was very pale and shaking as she went for one of the bags. Yeah, she knew without a doubt she was on her own.

"(q) Get a grip, girl." He said seeing the shaking.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 11:32 EST

She swore softly, "(vq) I'm just a #$%^&* ng junkie, remember. Now you get to see me in all my glory." She didn't sound so good either.

"(q) Get. A. Grip." That tone was low and made the bones vibrate, gone was the more conversational tone and more the tone of a warning. "(q) Control that #$%^&* long enough to do what you need to do. I didn't bust you out to lock yourself back in a different slam of your own making."

She drew out one of the hypos and pressed it to her own arm. With a hiss, the serum was injected. She was still shaking; it would take a few for things to kick in. Her eyes were closed and cheeks flaming humiliated now.

"(q) How long will it last?"

"(vq) 'Bout a month."

"(q) Got enough left to get it analyzed and replicated?"

She nodded, "(vq) Got at least a year."

He nods, "(q) If you are good, then lets take this party back on the road."

"Give me a couple, aight?" She was looking a little better.

He turned more fully toward her; "(q) They really took it all out in the psyche trials with your test lot, didn't they? Mental brainwashing, stimulation, chemical alteration?"

She glanced up at him, "Yeah, only some of mine didn't take like they thought."

"(q) No ****." He slid the knife back into his belt and took a step towards her, as always, his intent clouded by fluid motion that he had in both casual and fighting moves.

"If you are going to ride my ass, at least pull my hair." She was starting to feel more herself. She looked up at him as he moved. There was that wary look again.

"(q) Don't push it, Leena." Not girly, not sweetmeat, not chickie, not any number of other titles he had given her so far, but the familiar version of her name.

"(vq) This is my reality, Luther. You sure you want to hang around?" This was about as open as she got with anyone. Even showed down to her eyes.

"(Q) Get over it and past it. You sound like Saeder-Dyne already beat your ass. Get it through your dome, Lenna. They didn't do jack #$%^&* except give you a little boost that just gave you more of what you already *were*." Now he was talking more like a voice of experience than just a criticizer. "(q) They #$%^&* d up twice now, remember it."

She stood then, looking back to normal for her. "Yeah, they #$%^&* d up alright. I'm just sick of the pain and being the #$%^&* puppet for everyone."

"(q) Good. Feel better without their hand up your ass and playing their sideshow?" Now back to that normal, low tone.

"I'll feel better when their hounds are off my ass."

"(q) Sounds like you got a busy ass." It might have been a joke, no way to tell, really.

There was a smile at that, "This ass is exit only and I chose who I #$%^&*."

"(q) Now that the class in your ass is over, we ready to roll?"

The smile faded and she grabbed the packs. "Yeah. Preferably for a shuttle."

With that they head out of the hostel without looking back. It was be a long trip to Stars End.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 13:59 EST

They had just arrived on the Stars End and gotten settled in the private apartment she had lined up. She had prepared for a number of contingencies, even having to flee the system. Stars End was one of those.

Once settled, they headed over to Coaster's for a brew and to get a lay of the land so to speak. That was shot down fast by the appearance of a bounty hunter or two. Backed into a corner, the pair fled into the maintenance ducts.

Mileena kicked open a grate and flipped out of the duct, landing squarely on her feet.

Luthur listened to the almost muted words he heard and gave a kick as well to a grate before him, hearing another one nearby. He slid out of the ductwork and landed with a soft thump.

Sarex moved into the corridors. He slowed to a walk. He looked around and wondered where they were.

Mileena had her blaster out and ready. It was trained in the direction of the sound until she saw Luthur.

Jack hadn't bothered going around, or anything. Nope. He'd gone through the same ductwork Luthur had, energy-charged magnum drawn now. It wasn't probably completely stupid to be doing this, but whatever. It gave him something to do. Of course, he was smart enough to activate his personal cloaking field and keep quiet as possible, and keep distance between him and the man he followed.

Mileena gestured silently down the corridor. She was turning this into cat and mouse, only the mouse was deadlier.

"(q) Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dummer are going to be persistent." He picked up the grating and slapped it back in place. He slid the knives back into his hands and made to follow Mileena.

Sarex turned and looked around. "Alright UAF AUF AFU pest... Go away." He growled looking again.

Mileena rolled her eyes at that and looked over to Luthur.

Well, so much for silently following... He sighed, and then gave a well-aimed kick to the grating. He wasn't behind Sarex, unless Sarex had decided to go through the ductwork behind Luthur as well. Course... His presence was known now. He dropped down, quickly scanning the area and silently moving along with the magnum ready.

The echo of the grate was clue enough, "(q) Either find us a hole or we ghost this mother."

Sarex pulled out the Dargon blade. He closed his eyes using his Psyco-Kinesis. Maybe the kid would get the hint when the knife on his body flew and plunged into the floor by the moron's foot.

Mileena gestured to move further into the corridors. She wasn't about to give that hunter noise to follow.

He paused, glancing down to the blade. Well, now this guy was a threat. Threats took priority over the target... He turned, and aimed the magnum at Sarex. A pull of the trigger, and an energy-blast was shot at Sarex. Just after the shot was fired, he moved back toward the target, hugging the wall and taking cover in case of counter-fire.

Luthur was a big man, but he moved like a cat. He didn't survive a dozen different super max prisons and planets deadly in the extreme by not knowing how to move and hunt himself.

Sarex flicked the plasma blade on and it deflected the energy blast to the floor. He killed the blade again and sighed. "Junior you are getting on my nerves..." He was beginning to dislike this UAF pup.

Mileena instinctively ducked and kept moving.

Sarex turned around and headed a new way. he found himself in a dead end. He sighed and cursed.

They found something to fight more interesting than Luthur and Mileena. This suited him (Luthur) just fine. He kept close to her and the wall, curved blades kept ready at his sides.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:03 EST

The other hunter wasn't following Jack... That was good. Maybe he'd hit his mark. He certainly hadn't stuck around to find out... He moved in the direction he had seen them going, making sure nobody was behind him. He had to make sure he didn't get knifed in the back, after all.

Mileena glanced behind her, keeping her weapon at the ready as she moved - so much for breathing space. Her eyes glanced over to Luthur. There was no doubt now.

There wasn't anything in Luthur's even expression that was recriminating in any way about her earlier comment of space. To him this was a normal evening in his reality.

Sarex sighed. He turned and made his way towards a different sector. He didn't like this.

Mileena gestured to an emergency access point and made a move for it.

"Anytime y'all want to stop. I don't feel like getting shot at by the moron back there" Jack called out, as he caught a glimpse of them.

Sarex heard the rookie and sighed. He was dead and didn't care. He moved for a different section after find a dead end once more.

Luthur slipped several small, glossy black spheres from his belt pocket and dropped them to the floor as they moved, leaving them directly in the follower's path. Mileena scrambled out of the hatch and waited for him.

Sarex pulled up a half mask and kneeled by one. He nudged it with a clawed finger. Was he being led around or was this a trap. He put on a pair of goggles that sealed his eyes. He came prepared. The goggles made sure his eyes were hit by anything external.

Luthur slid out after Mileena, stepping to the side, blades held ready. She closed the hatch, and gestured towards the slums. They weren't far now, but it was best to mingle with others.

Sarex blinked noticing what is was. "Damnit? I knew I dropped something." He picked up the nanite capsule. He slid it into a pocket. Nanites were used to repair armor plating on his world. Must have dropped it when deflecting the blaster round from the kid.

Luthur dropped another of the small black spheres at the floor just beneath the hatch and followed Mileena, hiding the blades now in case security picked this exact moment to be making suicide rounds.

Mileena slid her blaster back into it's hidden holster. "(vqw) Like I said, local muscle."

"(q) Had to be expected. We've likely got a planet-sized bounty on our heads now."

Mileena sighed then looked at him, "(vqw) Luthur... thank you."

"(q) For what?"

"(vqw) For having my back there."

Sarex sighed and stood. "Now where did they go..."

Mileena made her way back to the little place she had. Once they were inside, she triggered the white noise generator.

"(q) If even half the #$%^&* SD is accusing you of is true, I've got more than enough reason to back you, Leena. Just remember, you got no reason to worry about me as long as you don't give me no reason to worry about you. We're in this, right now, together. #$%^&* 'em if they get in the way, we don't even stop to piss on their bodies when we ghost their asses."

She shook her head, "(vq) And you know it isn't true. Hades, most of the kills were my men..."

Sarex's earpeice overloaded and he ripped it from my head. He grunted and shook his head. He looked around it had to be white noise on a low level band. His earpiece was a low level chatter scanner. Did the white noise cover the port or just this junction? No, there was more than one generator in use in the port.

"(q) Don't care if all of them are true, Lenna. Don't give a rat's ass. I can tell you every kill they claim for me is true, every #$%^&* one."

She stripped out of the jacket and holster, wearing on a tank that revealed the black tattoo on her bicep. She dropped to the couch with a sigh.

"(q) Need to change our appearances, that hair of yours is a big signpost and my head is too since SD probably put out a picture of us already." Since he hadn't seen the wanted-poster-broadcasts yet.

She nodded.

It was going to be a long night.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:09 EST

The next day...

Mileena makes her way through the section of the station near the docking bays. She's trying to stay inconspicuous. Lots of luck with that...

Dusty is just wandering along trying to figure his way around this place when he spots the woman, "Hello there, miss."

Mileena tenses and does not answer, looking wary. She is very alert now that this stranger is calling attention to her, exactly what she didn't want or need.

"What's wrong?" He was wondering why she is tensing up at just seeing him. "Do I have a space slug on me?" She backed away, eyes glancing about.

Sarex was merely walking. Slight armored arms. He was trying to get a better feel for the station himself when he came across a male voice. He moved towards it staying to the shadows of the section. He had real DC-80s this go around and had one pulled. "Going somewhere?" He narrowed his eyes. He wasn't sure if this was the woman he hunted or not but he would make sure first. Somewhere, a security camera was recording the pulling of the gun.

Dusty frowns, "I'm not gonna hurt you." He was wondering about the weird way she is acting. "The name's Dustfinger Knightflare."

Mileena's eyes turned to Sarex and she frowned seeing the gun.

Dusty looks around to see the man and the gun, he really doesn't have time for this. "Oh come on." He was ready to pull out his special plasma sword.

"I am looking for a woman named Mileena Lakic and a man named Luthur Kohrliss. Seen or heard of them?" Sarex felt a faint smirk reach his lips. He drew the other pistol and aimed at the extra annoyance. He darted his eyes from one to the other.

Instead of wearing her hair loose, Mileena had it in neat braided corn rows. She wasn't about to say a word, let them think the guns had her afraid. The mind was racing though, inwardly cursing herself for not staying near Luthur.

"Nope, not heard of either." Dusty was watching the man to see if he would shoot, though he knew he could draw the sword in time to catch the bullet.

Sarex put one pistol away and looked to the woman as he lowered his. "And you miss?" He didn?t recognize her cause no profile pic was given on the bounty list.

Mileena shook her head - the nerves were unfeigned.

Sarex looked the woman over. "Name's Sarex. You two?" He said looking back and forth.

The darkness was a lifelong friend to Luthur. His eyes were ringing the trio in shimmering brightness. The concealable blaster from Mileena's flat lifted and aimed at the back of Sarex's head as he eased slowly from the shadows behind him. "(s) Think real carefully about your next move." Luther's voice was a low rumble, like an engine caught in too low a gear.

Dusty gave him a smile; he didn't have any reason to be nervous.

Mileena schooled her reactions so as not to betray the relief she felt. Her eyes move from one to another as she moves back away from both strangers.

Dusty backs into some shadows disappearing easily; he would move only a bit away from that spot.

Sarex heard the man and chuckled. "There?s one. Where's the woman Sir muscles?" He turned to look at his other prey. "Or we can go one on one in hand to hand and see who is better... I read your file. Impressive, killing so many people with ease."

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:12 EST

Dusty would find the darkness was no sanctuary from Luthur's eyes. He couldn't even help but see them all... even if he didn't want to. "(q) I got no time for you, sport. Unless you wanna be another statistic, better let this go." His thumb slid up the power channel and the faint whine of the gun reaching full power echoed softly.

Sarex calculated his survival. It was slim if he didn't try something. He had an idea. He took both his pistols and dropped them to the floor. Lifting his hands above his head. This was the only course of action right now.

Dusty watches the pistols fall and comes out of the shadows next to Sarex. "Not gonna help you, you already threatened to shoot me anyway." He was smiling as he goes back into the shadows and a bit away.

Luthur's other hand held a curved blade, rough and unfinished, but sharp as a scalpel. "(s) This is not payday, friend." He said backing away, around the man to Mileena's side. Before Luthur moved, Mileena moved herself to knock the pistols out of reach for the moment.

Dusty watches the pistols, he wants to pick them up, but there is a chance that if he does he'll get shot just for wanting some guns.

Sarex nodded. "Alright. Just know eventually you two are gunna be my pay day. " His clawed armored fingers flexed a moment then went to full length. He watched the two the entire time they were in front of him.

"(s) You don't give us no reason to worry about you; you don't have to worry about me, we crystal?" That low voice rumbling to Sarex.

There was something in Mileena's eyes, something cold then. "(vq) You won't see your payday." The way she said it could be taken as a threat or a statement of fact.

"Not really...I do look forward to a day I can slam your skull into a bulk head." Sarex looked to the woman. "And if it isn't Mileena. Look forward to getting your bounty as well."

There was something very cold in the look, chilling. "(vq) You won't see your payday." She repeated for good measure.

Dusty just watches this scene.

Luthur nods to Leena, indicating the rear corridor; it was time for this to end. She moved back towards the corridor. She was very tired of being hunted already. Not good to corner a lioness.

Dusty quickly moves up towards Luther, stopping about 5 feet from him. "You don't mind if I tag along do you?"

Sarex waved to them. "Happy running." He would have fun with these young ones.

Luthur's hand with the blade flickered out toward Dusty, curved blade sucking up light along the matte black finish, no reflection to betray it in the dark, "(q) Matter of fact, I do."

"(vq) Luthur." She called out quietly. They needed to get some space.

Dusty stops, "Well you keeping me here is probably going to get me arrested."

"(q) Life's tough all over, friend." Luther replied backing away again with Leena. Normally, he'd have cut them both in half with the gun or knife already, but he didn't need Stars End Security right now.

Dusty frowns and starts off the opposite way, "I will be seeing you again, especially if I get arrested." It was not a threat, just kind of sticking it out there because he knows if he gets arrested he'll break out and even so he wanted to find out some things.

Mileena murmured, "(vq) You'll improve your chances by not tagging along." A little bit of logic. She didn't feel the need to point out the obvious; he wouldn't be arrested unless he was doing something illegal.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:15 EST

Luthur kept backing away with Leena, no need to grab the man's guns, hunters never had open access weapons in his experience.

Dusty smirks and disappears into the shadows off on his way to wherever he is led.

Once they were far enough away to lose sight of them, Luthur lowered the gun and blade and glanced to Leena.

Mileena sighs softly. "So much for finding contacts. I would run into the one guy that doesn't respect a person's need to be left alone... and a hunter."

Sarex picked up his weapons and smirked. Oh yes the chase was still on but for another day. Many hunters now didn?t understand the old euphoria of the hunt. The truth to the game cat and mouse.

"(q) Could have been worse." Luthur said flipping the gun around and holding it out to her, butt first.

She took the gun and holstered it. "I always wondered why I was so bless with a #$%^&* life."

"(q) You're lucky."

"Only cause you busted my ass out of the Slam."

"(q) And now we gotta keep our arses out of it." Luthur started to walk; he didn't like staying in one place, to easy a target.

She moved with him looking warily about. "It's not going to end until we're dead or SD is destroyed."

"(q) Not much chance of that last part, Leena, no matter how bad that Intel you got is. Their one of the biggest mega corps in the galaxy, they'll survive, even if some people in it don't." He replied, pointedly laying that out there.

"Getting to the point a few people are gonna get ghosted."

"(q) Won?t make things worse. How'd the gun happy idiot find you, anyway?"

She punched a security code on a door once they reached their destination and entered. "Pure blind luck."

He looked to see what their destination was, by the way, before entering. She slipped into the living quarters they were using and then triggered the security and white noise systems.

"(q) You sure about that? He seems to have a lot of blind luck."

"They way he was talking, he didn't realize yet you snuck up on him." She learned against a counter top.

He leaned against the wall, "(q) Most people don't."

She looked up at him, then chill long gone, leaving only her ghosts.

"(q) Can you lower these lights?"

She reached over and triggers the lights to lower. She had decent night vision. He nodded a little, just once and pulled off the goggles for the first time since they met, eyes like burnished silver, pale and glossy filled the normal space of black.

She shifted her eyes to look up at him. "This what they did to you, Luther?"

He glanced directly at her and looked her up and down, without the goggles, she was an almost blinding aura of light to him, more like an angel, an angel on fire the color of brilliant silver. "(q) My parting gift."

A delicate seeming hand reached up to lightly touch his cheek. "Bastards."

He flinched, perhaps the *first time* in his life, pulling back slowly. "(q) This is why no one sneaks up on me. Or you now."

Her hand dropped to her side when he flinched. "Why do they have to play god?"

"(q) They do it because they can. And probably bored."

She sighed softly, "Probably... That and to build a better soldier."

"(q) You said they only made one of you? No more?"

"No, my whole squad... Only they are terminated."

Luthur nods, nothing new there.

There it was again. The feeling that she was nothing more than a thing to him. So why did it bother her? She kept her face neutral.

"(q) We gotta consider there may be more after you if they change their tactics."

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:16 EST

"Yeah, the formula they used on me did not produce the results they wanted."

"(q) No, it got them something they'll wish it hadn't." The smallest grin on his lips. "They #$%^&* d up making you into what they did. Not mindless, not a slave."

"They #$%^&* d me up too." She sighed softly... "Just wanted to be free of the streets, free of the military."

"(q) You gotta let that #$%^&* go, Leena. Don't look back at what you ain't got. Look toward the goal ahead, shoving that Intel right down your friendly little CEO's throat."

She glanced up at him, "About all I've got right now."

"(q) So you gotta make more. They expect you to either come crawling back, begging for forgiveness, because that is what they wanted you to turn out to be. or they expect you to be helpless."

"I'm not helpless and I ain't crawling back. There are times I wish I grew up normal."

"(q) Normal's overrated. You see those people in the slum part of the station? That's normal. #$%^&* normal."

"Yeah, and the alternative is too #$%^&* lonely."

"(q) Bullshit. You find someone you can trust, really trust to get your back, and you got something."

"I've got you... Aside from getting lectured."

"(q) Don't count on too many of them. Once I get you up to speed, you won?t hear a peep out of me." He said leaning back, not that he could much in the small room, but he watched her, he hadn't blinked even once since he removed the goggles.

"Yeah, just fade into the background, eh?"

"(q) Nope, just not going to have to teach you anymore. You're fast and you're tough, that goes a long way to learning your #$%^&* and surviving."

She nodded then and looked down. "What am I? A student...??

"(q) Look, Leena." Hearing that, he kept going, "(q) You think I ended up in that slam on accident?"

"No, you've said as much. but they way things have come across I'm either a thing or someone to teach."

"(q) Shut the hell up." His voice dropping dangerously low and coming off the wall he leaned against like a shot, but stopping just short of her. He was trying to calm down now, lips tight. "(q) I came to get your ass out. If I have anyone watching my #$%^&* ng back, it?s going to be someone that knows their #$%^&* and knows what getting someone's back means."

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:20 EST

She looked as though she had been struck when his voice dropped like that. That trust was a fragile thing and so far he's bailed her out a few times. "You've already made that clear." Her voice was tight.

"(q) Obviously #$%^&* ng not. If you were a thing, I'd sell your ass right now and be on my way or turn you in for the reward myself using some other dumb bastard. I bailed you because I need someone at my back I can trust. And you are the poster child for someone that needs someone at theirs."

"The last time I had someone I could trust at my back, I also cared about. And damnit if I don't care about you too..." There she said it.

That made him lean away from her, brows furrowing, as much a reaction as his almost-lunge had affected her. "(q) People that do that end up dead, Leena."

The flinch, now this... She moved past him then. "I'll deal."

"(q) You want to end up dead? That it? Nothing to lose and all that stuff?"

"What, for still having a heart?" It was a fight to get the words out. "Yeah, I'm the ass ..."

"(q) Cut the pity ****, Leena. It's not a pretty act for a pretty face." Was that just a saying, like some people said? Or was it something more real, even if his tone made it near-impossible to tell.

"It ain't #$%^&* ng pity, Luther... Twice now you've flinched from me as if I had the plague or something." She turned to face him.

"(q) Scuse the #$%^&* out of me, you think I am used to hearing that?"

"I don't know what to think."

"(q) I got you out because I need someone I can trust, but don't come down on my ass because I am still paranoid in who I trust, even you."

What else was there to say, "Fine."

He felt like punching something, but hell, he probably didn't have enough room to swing his arm in there without smacking her or himself. "(q) I got your back, Leena." It was as telling a statement as he had ever made to her so far.

She nodded, "And I've got yours."

He watched, unblinking, another moment, that tight lipped look, then sat on the edge of the bed.

She watched him sit down. Part of her wanted to apologize... but for what. Telling him how she felt... making things worse? She sat on the bed herself with her back towards his.

"(q) We gotta handle that hunter, soon." Talking about the next moves, that would be good now.

Back to business was a safer topic yet part of her curled up within herself. She learned now to keep it to herself. "Yeah, question is how decisively."

It was better than saying the wrong thing to her now, he knew that much. He'd pushed her against a wall, verbally, figuratively and the loss of temper didn't help. "(q) I don't believe in dumb luck. He tracked us last time."

"He won't stop until we put him down."

"(q) You know that?"

"His type." She said softly, "I don't like killing."

She really didn't like killing. They spent the night making plans.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:26 EST

The first part of the plan, getting off the station briefly and training. She had to learn how to work with him. Getting off the station had been no problem. One of Mileena's trips out had been to a guy known for falsifying Ids. The hunters were getting too close and they could not afford another confrontation. So here they were on they way to Denarus.

"(q) Planet is really mostly unexplored and empty?" Luthur had asked quietly.

She murmured softly, "(vq) Tourist attraction. The area we are heading is uninhabited.

"(q) Patrols?"

She shook her head, "Nothing substantial unless called. Fire watch, Rangers, medical... Some corp security."

Luther nodded and looked around them at whoever else might be on the shuttle, ever paranoid.

She was as alert, but not noticeably. "(vq) As long as we can get away from dumbass, I'll relax then."

"(q) I?m getting closer and closer to the decision that we may just need to ghost his ass and be done with it."

"(vq) I would not object to it." Mileena tilted her head back to lean. There was a knot of tension in the back of her neck that was paining her. The hunter in question was all bluster and no follow through. He was just posing, trying to intimidate. It was only annoying them.

"(q) Gotta find out more about him then, see what the fallout will be. Don't need dumbass Jr. somewhere out there looking for us too to get payback for daddy." He continued softly.

They spoke softly of possible contacts and people that Mileena knew. There wasn't much.

Luthur was doubtful, such a possibility meant things would go their way. SD had made sure that didn't happen so far, a million creds was enough to bring even the most careful and part-time hunter out in search of them. Milenna was doubtful as well as she looked out the view port of the shuttle.

"(q) What gear you bring?"

"(vq) Smaller concealable weapons. Some clothes, basic supplies, not much else."

"(q) Back to living off the land." This was said mostly to himself. For much of his life, that was preferred. It kept him in shape, alert and alive.

She nodded, "(vq) Good news is that it's a vegetation rich world. Bad news is that it's always tourist season."

"(q) Got animal life that can keep us stocked?"

"(vq) Yeah."

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:27 EST

He lifted a hand as she looked out the window and hesitated a moment before laying it on her shoulder, just briefly enough to convey that they'd cope with the situation for now. Then it was back to his side again. She looked over at him surprised he did that. He had crossed his arms over his chest already, back in the stance she has been accustomed to since minute one. The one that held all that self assured warning to those around him, even though it wasn't directed at Leena. She looked away saying nothing, keeping everything bottled up still.

Tourists all around them, they certainly looked out of place here with them. at least he likely looked out of place and the fact he stared down any and all of them that glanced their way didn't help. She looked out the view port inwardly hating to be on the run so much among other things.

"(q) How long until planet fall?" Resting a hand on the hull and leaning over her shoulder to glance out the view port.

"(vq) 'Bout a 1/2 hr." Her stomach was fluttering now that he was that close to her.

He nods and keeps looking out the view port. Studying, even at this altitude, the look of the planet below. She bit her lip and tried to concentrate on the approaching moon.

With his goggles in place once more, the scene outside reflected itself in double. "(q) Can?t believe people want to go to a giant forest for a vacation spot."

"(vq) There are different types of nature activities many won't see on the station. Resorts as well."

"(q) What part of the planet you got in mind for us?" Staying leaning over her shoulder, looking like he was mentally mapping the surface.

She murmured lowly. With as close as he is it was easy to pitch her voice for his ears only. "(vqw) There's an abandoned resort project a few clicks from the star port."

His attention looked for that likely landing spot, even this far up. He didn't hold out any prospect it was visible yet, not really, but he had to do something right now. He was never good at sitting in one place, it went against everything he knew. She resisted the urge to lean against him, remembering all too well the last time she made an attempt.

"(q) After heat dies down, we gotta start looking for some soft spots in SD's underbelly and make some hit and runs. Keep them looking all around them instead of in a single direction." He was thinking out loud, it seemed.

She murmured again, "(vq) I was thinking of feeding Intel to some of their competitors."

"(q) Got anything particular in mind?"

She murmured, "(vq) Leak the information on their 'super soldier.'"

"(q) Don?t think they'll start pumping them out too if they find it is legit?"

She shrugged, "(vq) We'll have to sift through the data and find a scalpel to use." Though she knew the corps and a few governments already had variations on the theme.

He leaned back again and back against the hull, arms crossed once more, "(q) Then we need some leverage to keep our asses intact when we make that move. How much Intel you got from your past runs still socked away or memorized?"

She murmured softly, "(vq) Enough to force the CEO out."

"(q) What about from the other corps you stripped clean? (q) Got any of their crap left?"

"(vq) Yeah."

"(q) We can use that too then. Might even be able to make a deal.. their biggest enemy may be a good shield for us."

She nodded. She hadn't stopped looking outside, "(vq) We'll have to find their rival in this sector."

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:33 EST

"(q)You didn't take any of their data, did you?"

She shook her head, "(vq) I wasn't set against any of the corps in this sector." It didn?t mean that SD hadn?t acted, just that her team was not involved directly.

He had already made it clear by his stance and posture that the tourists around them were not welcome in their curiosity. Most looked innocent enough for tourists, some might be questionable if he were a paranoid man? So yes, some of the people on the shuttle looked questionable but not overly so.

The shuttle had begun its descent to the surface. She could not hide the look in her eyes, so she really didn't look at him. She also did not want another lecture this day. He leaned back over her shoulder to look out the view port again, but his shoulder touched hers as he did and there was a little more pressure than needed or what seemed natural. It was like he was looking more at the view port than out it, or in its reflection. Her gaze shifted slight to look at his reflection - so close, yet so far.

His face turned very slightly, side to side, as if studying the passengers behind them, the ones that he had decided looked - a little less normal for tourists. She could imagine how things appeared. Yet she knew the truth and the thoughts running through her mind... Well she schooled her face not to reveal anything...

When he was done, he stood straight again and waited for them to dock. His hand found her shoulder again, fingers clenching in a silent sort of transfer of his own paranoia to her. He'd end up following her lead, as he did on the strange new station he had now come from, but he also stayed between Leena and the tourists around them. If a blade or gun was going to make an appearance, he'd face it first. A hand lifted and rested on his. A silent confirmation she understood.

When the door opened, some of the tourists were already starting out the door to get past him and Leena. The hand on her shoulder stayed where it was. His other arm shot out and slammed into the doorway's edge, blocking the gentleman that was trying to push by. He turned his face to the man and then followed the other man's slow progress backwards, away from him and Leena. He didn't see the need for words, most people were more than worried enough to meet the shielded stare of the bigger man.

She moved through the hatch and down to the ramp to where a vehicle was waiting for them. He made a point of waiting another couple of seconds as Lenna moved out first. Looking back at the others in the shuttle, they watched him as well. Though none tried coming forward to exit. Then he turned slowly back to the front and followed Lenna down to the vehicle and climbed in with her.

She started the anti-grav vehicle and looked around. There were none appearing to be ready to follow. She lifted off piloting toward one of the more popular places before adjusting their course.

"(q) Can they track this thing?"

"(vq) Probably, gonna ditch once we get close and hoof it the rest of the way in."

He sat back and watched the terrain whiz by, senses alert, even though it was supposed to be mostly a deserted landscape. It wasn't long before she started to decelerate... She looked around as she brought the anti-grav to a halt. He looked at the place now that they stopped and slid out of the AG and did a quick recon, visibly, of the area.

She grabbed her gear and slung the pack onto her back; Her eyes also doing that recon. She took a minute to trigger the emergency autopilot routine that would return the vehicle home. The less signs the better.

It was nature for him now to slip the curved blades from his belt, holding them ready at his sides. "(q) Which way?"

She murmured lowly, "(vq) West."

He nodded and took a second to determine West. He started off without being told. He was surprisingly quick and deft for a man his size. He was aware of Leena's position as they moved. She easily kept up with him and had managed to slip her blaster out, keeping it ready.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:35 EST

Luther kept up the pace until they came across what Leena had described. The area was an abandoned resort complex and various stages of completion. He slowed his pace and came to a walk, attention tossed to what would be obvious ambush spots. When he was sure those were empty, even though none knew of their plans, he'd make plans to turn them into *their* ambush spots. She watched him working and moved to get settled.

Luthur made those rounds and found his way back to her, ?(q) It's clear. We should do a good search for anything we can salvage too.

She nodded and looked over to him, "(vq) Yeah. Gonna be home for a little bit."

He slid the blades back into his belt and looked at what she was doing for the moment. ?(q) Got something on your mind??

She looked up at him, "Yeah." She didn't elaborate.

?(q) Care to elaborate??

She gave him a look that spoke volumes even though he knew what the answer was. "(vq) No"

He shrugged and started back into the interior of the mostly finished structure, looking the place over for anything that could be salvaged. She watched him go and then started getting their gear stowed and finding what she could. She was very much subdued.

He made the rounds, bringing back whatever he found and dumping it near their other stuff. ?(q) Gonna be a long damn vacation if you are going to be this moody, Lenna.? His voice a low rumble.

"(vq) What do you want me to say Luthur?" She looked at him then. "You already know what is on my mind." She was keeping herself busy more than anything else.

He just crossed his arms and stared at her quietly. She could feel his eyes on her as she worked. She was pulling her own weight, to be sure.

It was a sound that probably most would not have noticed, even in the relative quiet of this deserted forest. Yet the small scrape of wood against wood from the NW direction still sounded like a gunshot to the paranoid pair. Her blaster was out fast enough. Her eyes went cold then, anything she could have said was set aside.

Luthur?s head turned in that direction like a crack of a whip and he took steps backward, into the deepening shadows the approaching evening was already giving birth to. She ducked low and out of sight not having that advantage.

The sound stopped. Obviously someone saw them react and had lost sight of them, but now whoever or whatever it was wasn't moving and quiet came again.

She stayed low and placed her back against a wall. Her thumb moved the power level higher on her blaster. She didn't enjoy killing but she was also in that state of mind where she could if need be. It was a few minutes now before the slight movement was registered in the now nighttime scene, behind a tree several yards away.

Her focus narrowed and her eyes drifted over to where Luthur had faded into the shadows. He was nowhere to be seen.

The figure in the tree-scape moved once more and she could make out the slightest outline of a human shaped form. Whatever glint of illumination the area held reflected for a split second off something over the figure's eyes, likely in her experience, a set of vision enhancing eyewear.

She made a move to get into a better position, though she could be seen. It was a move she has done so many times so it was instinct. The figure stopped and reacted as the eyewear brought the movement of Leena to him. The object in his hands lifted quickly just as another figure dashed from the side of the hunter and plowed him over, both going into a tumble in the brush.

A rifle went off at the impact, sending the energy beam lancing for Lenna. The beam hit her in the shoulder and sent her to the ground hard.

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:36 EST

The hunter and Luthur rolled in the brush and the hunter sprang to his feet. Waving the blaster around, he was looking for the man that had barreled him to the ground. It was then that the fire was returned. She had the edge of being a marksman, so even in this low light; she was determined to end this. Despite her shoulder, that is

The hunter spun with the blaster's impact and he fell back on the ground, another shot going off wildly into the night sky. She sunk to the ground as the pain started over taking her. The hunter groaned and stood once more, though slowly and was looking for Lenna again as he did. He was breaking into a run now toward her general direction, also thinking to end this quickly.

She focused on that groan and squeezed off another shot. The hunter was weaving and diving into a roll when she started firing. He didn't fire off his own shot this time, no time to do both. Another part of the shadows behind the hunter was fast approaching her target.

She squeezed off more rounds. She was in such pain it threw her off.

The brush around their camp spot made it hard to run or navigate effectively as it was at least waist high. One of her blasts hit his chest, armor crackling under the heat of the blast. It stopped him in his tracks, almost throwing him back, but he kept his feet.

In rapid succession, three more blasts aim towards him. The darkness that broke apart behind the hunter darted from behind him, though no taller than the brush. The hunter let out a cry of pain.

Two of the shots from Leena go wide, but the third pierces the hunter's armor and spins him around where the darkness behind the hunter met face to face. A flash of a blade and an impact drove the hunter off his feet, into the air with the power of the upward thrust, having timed his stab with Leena's shot.

She sagged to her knees dropping her blaster from now useless fingers. Her right hand cradles her arm trying to hold her arm still against her.

Luther stood fully and yanked the blade free from the now cooling carcass and darted toward Leena. She closed her eyes to the pain, gritting her teeth. She would not cry out, not now.

He slid the blades into his belt and skid to a stop. Kneeling next to her and his arms instantly slid beneath her and lifted her like she was just a child. He took her toward the only shelter and hopefully medical gear.

She felt herself getting lifted easier by him. There was a slight intake of breath as the wound was jarred a little. She gasped out softly, "(vq) Auto... Doc... In ... pack."

He tried to keep her steady as possible until he got to their gear. He lowered her, more softly than he had picked her up. He heard the gasp and then upended the pack until he could find the Autodoc. Luckily the wound had been cauterized by the blaster so she was not losing blood. The Auto Doc dropped out onto the pile of items.

He picked up the Autodoc and started scanning her wound. Reading the display, he selected the recommended first aid units and applying them. Her eyes closed again and there was another hiss of breath as he went to work. The unit worked on repairing the damage. He applied a local anesthetic as well to help with the pain while it mended her.

She opened those eyes too look up at him. This had cemented her trust in him, even if he was still wary of her.

?(q) What else?? He was looking sort of helpless and on edge. Healing was last on his list of skills; he was learned in causing wounds, not fixing them. He seemed to be looking her over in a hurry, in case any time sensitive wounds were not noticed yet.

"(vq) Only... Shoulder." She said softly. There was a weary smile on her lips. "(vqw) Thank... you."

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:37 EST

His hands were out before him, like someone steadying themselves on a rocky ship. Perched on one knee, it was as close as he would likely get to a hint of a show of panic. He steadied his movements once she said she was okay now.

She watched him for a moment, "(vq) You.. ok?"

?(q) Yeah. Not... Used to patching someone up? That's all.? He was covering and he sucked at it, especially for someone whose entire personality was talking blunt and straight.

She glanced away at that and closed her eyes gathering her strength a bit.

?(q) You sure you are good??

"(vq) Take me a little, but yeah." Her voice sounded a little better.

?(q) Be right back...? He stood and drew the blades again and slipped off, without barely any sound, even through the brush.

"(vqw) Not going anywhere."

He returned a few minutes later, as silent as he had left, dumping the hunter's entire gear at his feet. ?(q) Don't see no one else out there... Idiot came alone.?

She turned to look at him. "(vq) Someone is getting desperate."

?(q) Or he was a lamb, testing us.?

"(vqw) One lucky shot... from a falling weapon." She ground out.

?(q) Not sure any other kind would have had a chance, Leena.?

She nodded slightly to him and was grateful for the pain block.

?(q) He wasn't loaded for this planet, he had some pretty run of the mill, general equipment.?

"(vqw) Greedy amateur." She said softly. "(vq) Or a decoy."

?(q) He can't possibly think he had a chance... unless someone gave him bogus intel.?

She tried pushing herself up to sit. "(vq) I'd go with the bogus intel... and he was testing us..." She looked him dead on, "(vq) They didn't count on us working together."

?(q) They probably think we split up as soon as we were out and on our own.?

She nodded slightly and winced. "(vq) Probably. Glad you're here, though."

?(q) Glad I am too. Your shot was a perfect chance for me.?

"(vq) Should have been able to waste him though."

?(q) Try again later without a hole in your shoulder.? He tapped the gear with a booted toe. ?His best equipment was surveillance.?

She nodded and found herself laying back again, strength fading. "(vq) Check for beacons?"

?(q) Already did. **** had three ready to go. Didn't get a chance to use 'em though.?

She nodded, "(vq) Cocky too. Something is not right."

?(q) He wasn't supposed to catch us. He said plainly, ?(q) I think he was a messenger.?

She nodded, "(vq) They know and are able to find us."

Luthur nods, ?(q) Or more like they can find us with more of this idiot's kind.?

?(vq) Canon fodder."

?(q) They knew we'd kill the messenger.?

She nodded, "(vq) We both are known to kill as needed."

?(q) ****... Ten to one this idiot pissed someone higher up off and this was the early retirement plan. Two birds.?

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:38 EST

She nodded, "(vq) It fits dillweed's Mo."

?(q) Can you stand yet??

She shook her head, "(vq) Still weak."

?(q) We'll stay inside tonight, I'll gather the rest of the gear and some wood. Don't go anywhere.?

She nodded, "(vq) Wise ass." There was a half-grin on her lips.

He moved off again to do as he said he would, all the while also doubling as a perimeter guard. After a time, he returned to where she was, a good number of branches lugged on his shoulder. She had dozed a little while he was out. She came awake as he returned. He set down the wood and checked on her again.

She laid there and looked up at him. "(vq) Sorry for being a burden."

?(q) This jackass got off the mother of all lucky shots without even trying to. No one is avoiding blind luck, Lenna. YOU ain't no burden.?

She nodded as she watched him. "(vq) I hate feeling this way, Luthur."

?(q) Which way is that?? He asked as he gathered their gear into one spot.

"(vq) Helpless, weak."

?(q) You never been injured?

She murmured, "Plenty of times and the one common complaint is that I am a lousy patient."

?(q) Jury's in agreement on that part.? He quipped getting his own personal gear from his pack, which included a coat. He rolled it up and slid it behind her sitting spot.

She shifted a little, "(vq) Could you grab me a tank top out of my bag?"

He looked for her bad and helped the tank make an escape and held it out to her. ?(q) Let me know when you need another pain block.?

She carefully tugged the ruined top off her frame and slid into the thin cloth. Modest, no. Just very used to being around guys. Not that type of self-conscious.

Even so, it surprised him and only showed the smallest amount::

She looked at him and then blushed a bit, "(vq) Sorry." Now she was self-conscious about it.

?(q) No reason to be. Wasn't expecting it, not like I ain't seen it before.?

She nodded

?(q) We bring blankets??

?(vq) Yeah."

He went to go find them. It was a nice temp outside, so why he wanted them was not apparent. She closed her eyes a moment. With some vine cut from the trees and the blankets over an arm, he fastened the vines to various portions of the hull of the unfinished resort and then hung a blanket from one that gave Leena a measure of privacy.

She blinked at that. "(vq) Wha?"

?(q) May be a big forest, but no reason you gotta be treated like you were still in slam. In slam, you got no choices, this ain't slam.?

She tilted her head as she regarded him, "(vq) Giving me some privacy?"

He stood up again, when he did stand up straight, it was like he became more... there. ?(q) Yeah.?

Mileena · Date: 2009-07-12 14:38 EST

She looked at him dead on. Whatever she could say, she just locked down.

?(q) Spit it out, Leena.?

She shook her head, "(vq) I'm not leaving myself open to being hurt again."

?(q) Explain it to me like I am an idiot.? He wasn't understanding.

She hugged herself and winced when she moved even that much. "(vq) My place a couple of days ago."

?(q) And? You ticked at this??

She shook her head, "(vq) Not ticked." She dragged her hand through her hair. "(vq) I took a chance and blew it. It bothers me "

He let out a breath, ?(q) Just tell me what you want from me and we'll get it out.?

She shook her head, "(vq) Isn't that easy, Luthur. Yeah, I care, but if it isn't returned, It ain't worth it."

?(q) You got a time limit here??

She shook her head, "(vq) No."

?(q) Good. We're in this together now, but I don't just take everything as it comes. Gotta let me deal in my time, my way. We're in a damn good place now.?

She nodded squishing down a little bit of hope. "(vq) Alright."

He squatted beside her. She looked over to him, her injured arm resting across her abdomen.

?(q) I don't think more are coming here without those beacons activated.?

She nodded, "(vq) I should be better in a day or 2."

?(q) We've got breathing space. Let me worry about everything else and you rest however long you need to. I'll get some food made.?

She reached out to touch his arm, hesitating afraid he will flinch or pull back. Thankfully for her, he doesn?t. "(vq) There had to be others you could have trusted, why me?"

?(q) You're wrong, dead wrong. And the morgue is full of the proof. You were my best shot. So far, it's paid off...? He stands now, not trying to make her let go though.

She nodded and drew back a bit. She wasn't going to hold him back, "(vq) You're my best shot... I know I can trust you."

?(q) Don't go getting all girly on me.? He said in that low rumbling voice. There was a lighter tone though to that last nudge to her.

There was a smirk on her lips, "(vq) Wait till I'm healed up."

?(q) Don't talk about it, do it.? He said in that same light tone, ?Where's our food??

She tilted her head towards the supplies, "(vq) Standard rations. Fresh is in the woods."

?(q) Not tonight, ain't leaving ya without cover. We'll do rations tonight.?

She looked like she was wilting now. "(vq) Let me doze for a little."

?(q) Rest, I got this covered. You wont see me out there... But I will be.

She got comfortable as much as possible and drifted off. She looked so much younger, more relaxed. He moved off to get the rations and watch for the time being the area they rested in.