Moving Forward

[Adron Malvern]

The more Alessandra seemed to talk the better it sounded. This was a relief since Adron was not sure of her recuperative abilities. However it seemed the worst could be behind her, they could only hope so. When she asked for the duffel bag Adron passed it to her without a word. It was not until she commented on there being more that Adron shook his head. “The kitchen, storage area, and everything like that are about fifty miles back. A lot of the compartments in this part of the ship were completely destroyed or blocked off. This is all we have.” He said, before running a hand over the back of his neck.

“I didn't go as far as the cockpit. So maybe there are some storage compartments up there we can check.” The man was doubtful but at this point anything they could find would be helpful. Alessandra made a point, the two of them should gather anything that would be of use. Adron looked around the room and was able to see three blankets that they could use, especially if the nights were cold or wet. Gathering the blankets, he tucked those into the duffel bag as well, packing them in tightly before arching a brow at Alessandra’s words.

Without a word he turned around to give the woman a bit of privacy. His eyes were closed to give her a bit of reassurance however that was not the sole purpose of the action. He drew onto The Force, placing a hand on his side as he tried to figure out exactly what the pain in his side had been. It felt as if it was just a bruise from something that impacted his side during the crash so he paid it no mind. Reaching out he used his grasp on The Dark Side in an attempt to draw his strength. When Alessandra strode up beside Adron carrying the duffel bag he gave her a careful look. She should have let him carry the bag but he knew she wanted to maintain some of that pride of hers, he of all people respected that.

“Fine. Let's go.” He said, making his way down the hall. He did not move too fast and every so often his eyes would turn to check in Alessandra. They were on a bit of an incline so it could quickly become a task for her to carry the bag. If she needed a rest then he would take it but for the time being he would let her fight her battle. As they moved down the hall his eyes would flash from one room to another. Every few rooms they may stop to see what they could find, usually the same things over and over. Some uniforms, a few pairs of boots, blankets, and maybe a roll of bandages if they were lucky. Once they finally made it to the cockpit Adron gestured to the closed blast door.

“Power is long gone by now, step back.” Taking his lightsaber into his hand the purple blade sprange from the emitter with a loud snap-hiss.

At least I still have this. He mused, bringing the tip of his blade into the middle of the door. After a few moments the metal around the door would melt away and create a small gap in between the two doors. Deactivating his blade, Adron waved his hand and with the unseen command of The Force one of the doors would weakly slide into its host. Adron paused for a moment to look over the cockpit. Both of the pilot droids were flung away from their seats, slammed into the walls and damaged well beyond repair. The viewport was overlooking a clearing in the mountain that seemed to have a path down into the Forest below.

Adron glanced back over to Alessandra and then down to the clearing. It was a rather large drop for her condition, yet he was pretty sure he knew how to manage it. “Put the bag down…I'll send it down and then you and I can jump down.” He said, walking over to the viewport and placing a hand over the transparisteel. He focused on the window, his eyes scanning from one end to the other before his hand shifted along slowly. “There…” He muttered.

With a flex of his hand a deep crack formed in the window, which quickly spread along the entire window before a loud crash erupted and the transparisteel shattered. Stepping onto the console, Adron held a hand out to Alessandra. “I promised you another date, right? How about we go sightseeing?” It seemed his own whit had not faltered much either.

[member="Alessandra Creed"]

 

[Alessandra Creed]

[member="Adron Malvern"]​

All of the news that Adron presented about the state of the ship caused her frown to deepen. Their circumstances were already difficult, due to the nature of her allergy, but nowmore solt even moreso. What she wouldn’t have given to rewind the day and find herself kissing him soundly for breakfast. It would have been much preferred over trying to lug what felt like a full sized bantha over her shoulder.

Briefly, she felt the Force move. It was subtle and slight enough that many would have missed it. Even in her weakened state, she noticed the ebb and flow caught her attention. Chocolate eyes, flecked with cinnamon, flickered over Adron. From head to toe the Minister of War was something she always drank in the sight of, most of the time, against her will. She just couldn’t help it. Her question came out strong, tainted by a faint wheeze, but still steadfast. “What’s wrong?”

He’d been so worried for her. Had he actually taken a moment to care for himself? Doubtful.

Regardless, she felt better of him that he didn’t try to take the bag from her. She needed to do something. On a good day Alessandra was physically far stronger than he was. Today? Not so much. Her extremely dense bones gave her the ability to stand, seemingly solid, but her head was still swimming. Tasting color—seeing sound. It was extremely disconcerting.

Ale followed him down the hall as quickly as she was able. Not without a healthy string of curses, but, she managed. Acting like a pair of vultures, which she loathed, they stripped the crew quarters of anything useful. She wished that her own rooms wouldn’t have been blown away. At least then she could be wearing her own clothes, with a half dozen blaster pistols, and a variety of other bladed alternatives at their disposal.

She knew better than some the destructive power of a lightsaber and indeed stood clear when Adron mentioned it. It was a blessing that he had managed to hold onto it. One weapon was better than none. The door opened soon enough and she felt some of the tenseness in her shoulders cease. She didn’t know what she’d expected to see on the other side. Dead crew. Empty air.

She did her best not to look at the details of the cockpit too closely but instead followed the directions that the Serenno man gave her. Her face scrunched up slightly when she looked at the extremely sheer drop over the edge. Hesitantly, she put the duffel bag down, but didn’t come closer right away. That was a long way down and her abilities were less than able when her head felt in such a fog. Hesitantly her hand slid into his…“Are you sure?”

Alessandra let him pull her forward and she wrapped an arm gently around his waist. Her nose buried itself against his chest as she hid from a strong wind. A few wayward strands of long hair moved and she breathed him in, ignoring his words about a date, or sightseeing. This was a good way to break their legs if something went wrong. She gave a stuttering sigh. “I very much so love and hate you right now. Next date—Less blood? More wine?”

Leaning up on her tiptoes she kissed the edge of his jaw. It was soft, barely there, but affectionate.

“Just remember that we’re basically out of bacta. And pain killers.”

Whatever he decided to do she would trust him. She didn't have much choice. Ale had basic survival training, but some of this was beyond her. She excelled in an office setting. Not in the middle of nowhere, in a crashed starship, and without any contact with civilization. She was out of her element and she absolutely hated it.

 

[Adron Malvern]

[member="Alessandra Creed"]​

​

Alessandra had questioned Adron if anything was wrong. He said nothing. There was no reason for him to speak on his situation until they had progressed into a better situation, if such a thing existed. "It's nothing." He told her curtly, not caring to carry on the conversation anymore than necessary. If he kept speaking than suspicion would rise and that would lead to more questioning. When it came time for her to join him on the ledge he could not help but flash her that certain smile that he had gifted so many times in the past. It was that smile that only she could bring out of him and even in the most crude of situations. "I am always sure. I'm always right after all." He said with a witty humor about him. When she pressed into him he would wrap an arm around her and take her closely to his chest. As she spoke his foot would send their duffel bag over the edge and he was careful to create a cushion for it when it impacted the ground.

The Force was a handy tool.

He watched as the bag rolled into the clearing before them and with it came a triumphant smirk, followed by a hesitant exhale. Stopping the bag from slamming into the ground was one thing but they were another matter entirely. He could have made it by himself or even if he was at full strength such a thing would be no task. With his strength waning and their condition worsening they had no other alternative. Alessandra' kiss came to his jaw and shot a warm feeling of reassurance through him, even as she spoke with the gravity of their situation.

"Don't trust me?" He challenged before leaning forward to place a tender kiss on her brow. The moment his lips parted from her he pushed off with his legs to send both of them flying down towards the ground. The fall was less than a second and in that time it had taken Adron's full focus to roughly plant them into the ground. His feet slammed down and immediately he fell to his knees, yet when his free hand went out to stabilize them he could not help but give out a nervous chuckle. "See? You'll learn to listen to me." He said, before checking on Alessandra. The trip down had given the man a sizable headache and now his side was on fire, yet he didn't speak of it.

How would could he be to speak on it when Alessandra was truly wounded?

He walked over to the duffel bag and immediately took it into his hands, giving Alessandra the reprieve she had earned. Finally Adron's eyes peered at the path before them. The mountains came to an abrupt end less than a mile down the path. Where the mountains ended there was a thick slew of trees that marked the beginning of the jungle and their true challenge. In the far distance Adron could see the smoke that was still billowing from the other half of their ship. It was as good a place to start as any. His hand patted his side to search for something that he was just now realizing was not there. "Kei." He muttered, before his eyes locked on the smoke that rose over the horizon. "Damn it, how could I be so stupid?" He said, before running a hand over his lightsaber hilt.

"We'll head to the other half of the ship. It's all I saw in the distance and maybe there will be more supplies there we can salvage. Maybe it even has power and communications." He said, before starting down the trail towards the trees below. "Stay close."

 

[Alessandra Creed]

[member="Adron Malvern"]​

Whenever a man said it was nothing in that sort of tone it was undoubtedly something.

Alessandra bit her tongue, painfully, for the time being. Wide, dark, and expressive eyes narrowed just slightly but he wouldn’t be able to see it once he headed toward the cockpit. He seemed to enjoy her uncertainty enough that it drew out the familiar confidence than she was used to. Her lips quirked in response, despite her vague irritation, and she cast him a sly half glance when he claimed to always be in the right. “I think you must have bumped your head. You’re confusing me with you.”

Afterall—the woman was always right.

“I trust gravitational attraction.”, Alessandra responded practically when he teased her. His kiss to her temple mollified any testiness about her and she mistakenly glanced down again. The dark-haired beauty was most definitely not ready when Adron suddenly tossed them from the cockpit. Her eyes squeezed shut and her breath caught in her throat. Trust him. She did. It didn’t make it any easier to brace for the impact she knew to be coming.

The landing was far from graceful, jarring, but neither of them had broken anything. She wanted to slap him for thinking he was cute but with the way he kept looking after her? Even after he’d taken the brunt of the fall? It was hard to stay angry. Adron stood after a moment and headed over to the duffel bag but Alessandra stayed where she was for a long moment. She hadn’t even hit the ground that hard, but everything was spinning again, and her cheeks felt hot.

She placed her hands on her knees and bent over to breathe for a moment. It helped. At least, her stomach stopped rolling like ocean waves. Her booted feet made their way over to Adron eventually. She was just in time to hear him chastise himself, murmuring a name she had heard somewhere before, and her hand came to rest on the back of his arm. “What’s wrong?”

“And don’t just say nothing. We’re in this together—Be with me.”

All of the politics and grandstanding that Geonosis required of them didn’t matter anymore. Most in her offices would be gobsmacked to see her wearing anything but the latest couture and a pair of neck-breaking high heels. Surviving was all that mattered, if they didn’t plan to die on this insufferable rock, and she would make sure that Adron knew her thoughts on it.

He carried their gear and the generally stubborn woman let it be. Instead, they began to make their way down the trail, and the Minister of Commerce found herself distracted by the uneven terrain. The plant life seemed to come in a variety of unusual colors. The air was breathable, thankfully, and nothing tried to eat them on their way down toward the jungle. It gave her both hope and dread. Alessandra was certain that there was some sort of creature feature waiting to try its luck while they weren’t looking.

The jungle seemed more of the tropical variety but it likely held its own dangers. Poisonous plants. Some mysterious animal that had been drawn by the scent of blood and the sounds of the crash. Most would be frightened from the immediate area. Some of the more carnivorous sort? Not so easily spooked.

Regardless, she already felt her body tiring. She was getting clumsy. Missing steps that were clear. Her lips were pressed thin from concentration, cheeks flushing a little pink, but she managed. She wasn’t sure how but she was proud of herself for not falling. “I hope we can scavenge some supplies from the rest of the ship. Even just the rations or the water purifiers would help…”

 

[Adron Malvern]

[member="Alessandra Creed"]​

A sigh escaped Adron when Alessandra’s questioning continued. She meant well but Adron was trying to keep his mind focused on the task at hand. When she said they were in it together he glanced over to her and nodded softly. “You're right.” He said, smiling a bit as he forced a muttered, “As usual.” Adron tapped the lightsaber on his waist while he pointed his chin to the remaining half of their crashed ship. “My other lightsaber, I have to get it back.” He had never told Alessandra about his second blade or how it hosted a piece of a man’s soul within it. The weapon itself was encased in the petrified carcass of an orbalisk so it was not likely to be destroyed in the crash.

As they continued down the path and into the thick of the jungle Adron was grateful for the relatively even terrain they were moving through. The weight of the bag was becoming an ever growing strain on the man. It seemed he was not exactly operating at his full capacity. At the pace they held it would be a long and rigorous journey to the crash site. The jungle brush only grew more and more thick until the path they traveled on was all but blocked by a wall of overgrown vines and shrubbery. Biting the inside of his cheek Adron cursed softly before shifting the pack higher onto his back and pulling his lightsaber from his waist.

A snap-hiss erupted while the purple blade came to life in his hands. He felt a bit of his energy surge as a conduit of The Force formed between his blade and his own power. It was much like a deep breath after a long run, and just as fleeting. He began to cut through the brush while listening to Alessandra. She was right, the rations and clean water would be an exceptional addition to their supplies. They were likely to burn through thousands of calories each day they were here. While The Force could satiate hunger and booster strength it was no long term substitute for actual food and water, especially not in their condition.

“We can only hope the ship isn't too damaged. It should have some power if the reactor wasn't too damaged. Could be good shelter too.” He explained before pausing for a break from cutting down the foliage. He looked back and was covered in a thick sticky layer of sweat. They had made good progress but they were far from accomplished. With a soft exhale he turned back and kept cutting.

Hours came and they left all the same. Adron had managed to cut through an irritatingly dense part of the forest which led them to a small clearing where one of the incredibly large trees has toppled over. Exhausted, Adron deactivated his lightsaber as he looked to Alessandra, speaking in between small breathes. “We’ll stop here. I don't know what's in this jungle so it's best we set up some shelter for the night.”

Walking over to the large tree Adron dropped his bag next to the trunk before leaning on it and exhaling once again. Looking up to the mountain he took notice of the distance in between them and their ship. A day’s travel had been long and incredibly difficult but progress had been made. He looked to Alessandra and took her hand, pulling her closer to him but not pressing against her. His clothes were soaked through in sweet and the stench of the jungle was thick on him.

“You should eat. How are you feeling?” He asked, looking into her eyes searchingly for anything contrary to what she said. Although the pain in his side had yet to subside and Adron was exhausted none of it seemed to matter. A man who had always been for himself could only focus on one thing now. Her.

 

[Alessandra Creed]

​

[member="Adron Malvern"]​

Alessandra was curious about the lightsaber that had her fellow Minister all in a tizzy. Well, truthfully, he wasn’t reacting much to it but for him? His expression told her that it was important. The fact that he brought it up at all, with everything else they had to worry about, then it was definitely significant. “Don’t worry—we’ll find it.”, she assured him quietly. From there on, temporarily, she dropped it. The raven-haired woman didn’t need to know what it meant to him. He wanted it. Good enough.

She followed Adron down the path as carefully as she could. No complaints, at least not out loud, and did her best to keep up. Alessandra felt shaky, sweaty, and more than anything as if she needed to go back to sleep. For about a week. When they got to a point that they couldn’t easily cross she understood that they would still be going through it after the familiar sound of his lightsaber met her ears.

“It would be nice...”, Alessandra spoke softly, watching, while the man worked. He was so stubborn. It was part of the reason he held her attention so easily. He never seemed to bend once he made up his mind. “I’m just not holding my breath.”

She just wasn’t fond of living all natural.

“Do you want me to try?”

He kept going. She chewed the inside of her cheek and carried the duffel bad instead. It wasn’t so bad because they couldn’t move super quickly, but, she still felt the burden. Not as much as Adron did hacking away at weeds and various amounts foliage. She nodded her head when he stated that they would stop in the clearing ahead and she inwardly sighed in relief. They were losing daylight and she felt like there were sandbags attached to her ankles. When Adron pulled her closer she almost stumbled.

Her face showed that she hadn’t meant to, a mix of surprise, and irritation. Ale wasn’t used to being the weak one. She was a Creed. A Brentioch. She was Epicanthix. Weakness did not exist in her bloodline and it felt horrible to feel strained from the tiniest of movements. He didn’t quite pull her close, something she was initially confused on, but eventually realized it was out of respect for more or less clean person. Soaked in sweat—He was beautiful. But, so gross. “I’m all right.”

She could feel his eyes. Always watching, always careful, to ensure she was telling the truth. They were both stubborn it seemed. Breathing carefully, she exhaled slow, before steeling her resolve so that she could be a little more honest. He deserved it after looking after her so well the last day or so. “…I’ve been better.”, she amended, glancing down, to try and hide an overwhelming sense of embarrassment. Alessandra hated feeling like a burden.

“When was the last time you ate? Slept?”, the dark-haired woman queried gently. Chestnut eyes returned the gaze that he gave her, though, it was softer. She was too tired, too sore, to put up a completely perfect Minister of Commerce persona. She tugged him from the tree and led him toward some of the ones that had fallen down. It gave them eyes on most of the clearing and would make a decent campsite. At least, she thought it would. From the duffle bag she pulled out a few blankets. One, she rest on the ground, and the other she lay against the rough bark of the tree. “Sit down and catch your breath. I’ll wander around nearby to look for some dry wood. Perhaps there’s something growing around here that’s edible…”

She offered a smile and leaned close to him. Her lips brushed against his before she let go. True to her word she didn’t venture out far on her own, easily within yelling distance, and would return frequently with little bundles of sticks and some of the more dry grass. Alessandra didn’t know how cold the night would get and didn’t want to wait until the last minute to find out.

On her last trip through she did find a tree that seemed to be bearing something. She’d almost missed it at first because it was so green it almost blended in with the surroundings. The second issue was that she couldn’t reach it. They had some rations, but, anything that would make them stretch would be welcome. Focusing took a little effort, but, eventually she was able to pull a few down. She returned to their makeshift camp with three or four. It seemed like a fruit? Vegetable?

“I’m not sure what these are but anything would taste better than rations.”

They were prickly on the outside and shaped like oversized cartoonish hearts. They had a smell to them that seemed citric, almost like an orange, and it gave her hope that it was something similar. She sat them down on the edge of the blanket and moved to arrange the firewood.

She had no idea what she was doing with that—but she tried.

 

[Adron Malvern]

Adron blinked at Alessandra as she stumbled into his arms. Normally if she made such a stumble he would likely joke with her or comment on it. However he saw no reason to embarrass the woman any further. Alessandra was a woman who had pride and a great deal of self-value. For her to be as weakened as she was likely wounded her pride enough as is. Instead of speaking his hand brushed against her arm softly. When she answered he nodded back at her though he was not entirely sure if she was telling the truth. It seemed none of her more aggressive systems had returned but he knew she had to be exhausted as well. When she answered with a bit more truth he gave her a knowing gaze that eventually fell into a small smile. "If you need anything or get too tired, tell me." He did not ask, but the concern that lined his voice could scarcely be missed.

When it came Alessandra's time to ask the questions Adron shook his head. "Not hungry. A little tired but we'll get some rest soon enough." He told her, his own assessment not holding the full truth as well. He was a bit hungry but he knew it was too early for him to be dipping into their rations. Alessandra led him over to a collapsed tree where she set up a few blankets for them to sit on. When Alessandra said she was going to walk around Adron leaned over to her, clipping his lightsaber to the waistband of her uniform before clearing his throat. "Just don't go too far." He slumped down onto the ground and pressed a hand to his forehead, wiping the sweat away and leaning back against the tree. The relief that flowed through him was almost enough to force a smile, almost.

While Alessandra collected a bit of sticks and bark Adron glanced around, his eyes falling on the sky above them. He was still no closer to figuring out where they were or how they had gotten there. His eyes locked onto a small sphere in the skies which he realized must have been a distant moon.

Again Alessandra returned except this time with a bit of fruit held in her arms. He arched a brow at the strange food before a light hearted chuckle escaped him. "Knowing our luck they're poisonous. Here let me try one." He held a hand out to her expectantly. Adron would nurse the bit of fruit in his hand, eyeing it a bit as he spoke to Ale. "You know if we weren't always so busy i'd think we could use a vacation. This place doesn't quite cut it."

While she worked the fire Adron began to puncture the strange fruit with his finger, peeling it apart and smelling the innards warily. He looked up to Ale and smirked a bit. "I always hated the outdoors. Unless it was snowing or I was on a beach somewhere. My father used to take us to Telos for wilderness training and it was probably my least favorite thing to do growing up. That and deal with protocol droids." He muttered, recalling his hatred for droids beginning at a very early age.

[member="Alessandra Creed"]

 

[Alessandra Creed]

[member="Adron Malvern"]​

Points to Adron that he didn’t mention her clumsy movements. Alessandra could feel her teeth grinding together, but, the soft brush of his hand eased her temperament. She hated feeling this way. Even when she’d been young, despite the fact that she was extremely close to her family, she’d been fiercely independent. She could have taken any number of high profile jobs on Brentaal VI but she’d turned in the exact opposite direction. She chose somewhere new, where no one had ever heard of her family, and especially, not her parents. Walking on eggshells like this felt like a loss autonomy.

It was horrible.

It didn’t surprise her that the Minister saw right through her momentary charade. His eyes told her that he knew even before she fessed up. “I’ll let you know…”, she spoke lightly, carefully, avoiding making any promises. Alessandra would admit to her weaknesses if, and only if, she had no other choice. She was stubborn. Just…Not stupid. If something was truly amiss she would have no choice but to clue him in.

Adron claimed not to be hungry and her eyes narrowed just a little bit. When was a man not hungry? Yet, as he had been enough to let her off the hook, she would do the same for him. Instead, she leaned forward to brush a feathery kiss against his lips and then set about to making a makeshift camp. There wasn’t much she could do to make the ground less hard and uninviting but she tried. When it came time to exploring, she was a little startled when Adron clipped his saber, to her belt. Most Sith wouldn’t part with their favored weapon if their lives depended on it. “I won’t. I’ll stay in yelling distance.”

Her smile was slight, though, reassuring when he sat down. He really did need a rest. She wasn’t the only one the crash had taken a toll on. Alessandra disappeared after that, reappearing with bits of dry bark and twigs, and then finally the questionable fruit and or vegetable. “It is not poisonous…”, she responded indignantly, on autopilot, even though it very well may have been. Part of her natural feistiness was rearing its head.

Nevertheless, she knelt down on the blanket and let the strange colored fruit roll down. Careful hands reached down to hand Adron one of the green objects. It sure didn’t smell toxic through the skin, more sweet and citric than anything else. That didn’t mean anything though. Even the sweetest things could be lethal. But, hey, so was starvation. “We should go on a vacation when we get out of this. I think I need one…Maybe somewhere far, far away.”

Alessandra loved her work. But at that moment? She just wanted to lay in the most comfortable bed the most expensive resort had to offer, for a week, before laying on the beach for another week. Then and only then would she feel like getting back to business.

The dark-haired woman tried to make a fire the traditional way and quickly gave up. With the wood piled neatly, she rose her hand, with a little concentration flame began to lick at her fingertips. It took more effort to conjure than she would ever admit. She twirled her fingers in the air and threw them down at the impromptu fire pit. The dry grass caught and a fire blazed to life.

Alessandra sat back on her haunches, somewhat pleased with herself, before she scooted back to sit beside Adron. He told her a little bit of what he felt on the outdoors and she smiled a little bit. She liked when he told stories of his youth or of his family. She hadn’t known him then, and it was hard to imagine him being so young, but she liked when he painted little pictures for her. “My father taught us basic survival tools. He never wanted either of us to be unprepared—but my idea of roughing it is a one-star hotel.”

“Protocol droids were some of my best friends before boarding school. And you already know how I feel about the cold.”

At least this planet seemed fairly temperate. She leaned back against the log tentatively, before, in turn, letting her arm brush against his, though, she gave him space since he might still be too warm. Chocolate eyes fell closed as the sounds of nature flooded her ears. She really, really, wanted to go home. Back to the noisy, hustle and bustle of Golbah City, where the blare of her comm woke her up once an hour with some sort of crisis. That was never really a crisis at all.

This place was too quiet. Freakishly, quiet.

 

[Adron Malvern]

It was not often that Alessandra could get something past Adron, likewise for him trying to hide things from her. In many ways it served no purpose for them to lie about their own conditions, however they both had too much pride to act otherwise. Once she promised to tell him if she started to feel worse he was content to end it there. No reason to push the matter, it would not lead to much in the end anyway. The breather of laying against the fallen tree had already done wonders for Adron. Of course, he was far from rested but it felt good to have some air in his chest once again. His palmed the odd fruit in his hands, eyeing the lime-like color on the Peel of the fruit. His finger pierced the fruit, causing a trickle of liquid to flow down his fingers.

“It smells pretty good.” He regarded lightly, before exhaling into a deep yawn. He continued to peal the small fruit before taking a bite into it. He licked his lips, trying to search for the tell-tale flavors of any poisonous toxins he could recognize. He tasted nothing but that meant nothing, flavor seldolm would lead you to know if what you are eating is foul to the body. Rather than focus on it he finished the bit of fruit and tossed the peal back behind them. It felt good to have something on his stomach, yet there was still the soft rumbles of hunger.

Alessandra did her best to make the area a bit more comfortable. With their few blankets they had a bit of cushion underneath, yet it was the fire Adron was eager for. She was leaned forward on her haunches working on the fire, even at an exhausted state the man could not help but gaze at Alessandra's backside. It was not until she leaned back that the man snapped from his stupor and offered her a light smile. “We'll go. Somewhere nice. Maybe someplace tropic with lots of water. Just me, you, and as much alcohol as I can fit into our room.” He laughed a bit, the thought of a vacation sounding better by the moment.

His eyes rose to stare at the night sky. There were a number of stars shining above them, most seemed like diamonds twinkling in the night sky. He continued to stare at them before placing a hand over his head. “We should get some sleep… Tomorrow isn't going to be a cake walk either.”

Almost as soon as he finished his sentence Adron leaned over onto Alessandra's shoulder, asleep. He had released The Force from his body and with it no longer sustaining him his consciousness quickly abandoned him.

The night would come and go uneventfully and was even a decent night's sleep. Adron's eyes crept open just as the darkness of night was being chased away by the morning sun. The first feeling that came over Adron was pain. His arms and legs were as stiff as rocks even as he stretched out from under his blanket. His side was practically pulsing with a pain be could not explain. Still, he ignored it while pushing himself into a sitting position against the tree.

“Kark…” He muttered, trying not to disturb Alessandra. Leaning against the tree he tried his best to chase away the morning pains. Not long after he sat up Adron stood from his blanket and looked to Alessandra. There was a soft expression that crossed his face before he looked to the sky. The nighttime stars were fading away as the sky caught a pale hue of blue. They would need to keep moving soon but for now he would let his woman sleep. Crossing his arms over his chest he would close his eyes and try to dull the pains that crossed him.

[member="Alessandra Creed"]

 

[Alessandra Creed]

[member="Adron Malvern"]​

Alessandra watched Adron try the mysterious fruit she’d brought back from the wilds and the tightening in her stomach made her want to try it too. She hated rations, in all forms, and would rather subsist off of air before eating something so foul and pre-packaged. Her standpoint was that of a woman that had never wanted for anything. She had never slept hungry, unless it was out of petulance, and she had never suffered any true loss. Not the way Adron had. Her family was whole, as whole as it could be, and in that sense, the Minister had an entirely different upbringing.

“Well—I don’t want to be here alone. So if you’re poisoned so should I be…”

She didn’t lack in common sense. When it suited she simply chose to see things as she wanted. Not, how they actually were. If it came down to life and death she would certainly partake in what they had left. But if there was a choice? She would wait.

Unaware that the man behind her had been taking in the view, she leaned back once the fire came to life, and sat down beside him. A tired smile passed her lips when he teased about taking a vacation. What she wouldn’t have given to sink into a soft feather bed to sleep for a week. Her side ached, still, and it didn’t feel any better after her jaunt through the woods. There were spasms that caused her breath to hitch as her muscles continued to strengthen and knit themselves back together at an accelerated rate. The leftover bacta in her system made it feel like she was recovering from the hangover of the century.

Sleep, real sleep, felt like a distant dream.

She settled down beside Adron, peeling a piece of fruit, only for him to trail off mid-sentence. Alessandra had been about to agree with him but stopped when his head hit her shoulder. The soft, steady breathing caused her to remain silent. She could see that his face had gone slack, almost boyish, and she felt a twinge of guilt. He’d probably stayed awake ever since the crash. She could feel the worry in him, the exhaustion, and the pain.

Alessandra set the fruit down in her lap and reached up to brush his hair from his eyes. She craned her neck just enough so she could kiss his forehead tenderly. “Good night.”

She stayed awake as long as she dared. Sustenance made her feel a little stronger, though, every little twig cracking caused the hair on the back of her neck to stand on end. It was too quiet here. Regardless of her apprehensions, blessed with the heat of the campfire, and the man beside her—Exhaustion would take her too.

When Adron woke she was slow to follow. Her head swam, eyes tightening closed, and for a long time, she just remained still. Caught in a place between half awake, half dreaming, she heard his muted curse. “…What’s wrong?", she whispered, her voice quiet, small, and almost childlike. Alessandra wanted to pull herself from the uncomfortable blanket but couldn’t really seem to do so yet. She didn’t even remember laying down. More than anything, she hated, that she couldn’t feel him. Despite the uniform, she wore it was cold. The fire had long since turned to embers. “Adron…”

Teeth grinding, swallowing a groan, she pushed herself up. Chocolate eyes blinked owlishly in the dredges of the morning and some of the tenseness left her once she lay eyes to him. He wasn’t far. Just. Not where he was supposed to be. She stood with some difficulty and came to stand behind him. There it was again. Undiluted, breathing, pain. She could sense it just as easily as she could see him standing before her. Without the Force and stimulants masking his injuries, keeping him strong, it was more than apparent. “Let me help you. I can feel you. Please, let me try.”

She slid her arms around his waist and let her head rest against his back. Her palms splayed themselves against his torso. One over his heart. The other resting on his abdomen. True healing had never been a strength that she possessed. She couldn’t mend herself. But, she wasn’t completely useless. “All of the women in my family seem to be made to destroy. I can’t completely fix this…But I think I can help…”

Closed eyes, sightless, she reached through the Force and followed the echoes of discomfort. Alessandra didn’t know why she could feel him so acutely. She just could. She pictured his body in her mind's eye, every muscle, every curve, every angle and let the images solidify. She could see swirling areas of red. Cracks, fractures, and breaks where they shouldn’t be. The raven-haired woman gingerly pushed the Force into the injury and focused on what needed to happen.

Gradually, he should feel the throbbing lessen. It would still hurt. Alessandra, truly, was no healer but it would take the edge off enough so that the day wouldn’t be so grueling.

When she stopped she kept her arms wrapped around him. Her form trembled, just a little, from the chill in the morning air and something else. She didn’t say anything more. Not yet. She also didn’t dare move. The Force was hard to hold onto when her body and mind felt such a disconnect.

“Better?”

 

[Adron Malvern]

He couldn't hear her. No matter what Alessandra said Adron stood as if he had been frozen in place. The Dark Side of the Force was rushing to sustain him, but it just wasn't enough anymore. He had not been able to feed on true emotions of hate and anger, feel the life leave someone's body and revitalize his own. In time, Adron was pulled from the cold reaches of the Dark Side. Slowly his senses bled back into the world around him and with it, the pain returned. This time it was dulled, as if something was pulling the knife from an open wound. It was there but now it was bearable. The cold was replaced with warmth and when he looked down he could see Alessandra's slender hands wrapped around him. They were as warm as he believed they could be without turning to flames, he welcomed her touch.

A brief sigh of relief escaped him while his hand came over hers, looking back over his shoulder to speak to her. "Thank you." Was all he said before closing his eyes once again, savoring their moment of closeness. He looked away from his lover, to the endless sea of trees beyond them. They were still shrouded in darkness, however now Adron's eyes could pierce through them. Now he could see the movement.

It began as one shadow, melding into the next. Then over time he began to notice these shadows did not move in an incoherent manner. No, they moved with the efficiency of conscious thought. One...Two...Three...His eyes tracked the figures as they moved around them in an almost predatorial routine. Were they preparing to attack?

When his eyes met the eyes of another for a fleeting second, he knew they were men. Men who were watching them with the deadly intent of an assassin. "There are at least five of them..." He muttered to Alessandra, his hand squeezing hers while he kept his voice barely above a whisper. As he spoke his eyes closed once again, hoping to find their assailants in the shadows. Nothing. Their signature in the Force was....eerie, shrouded in the dark side, yet when that cloak was pierced it was like they had never been there at all.

"The Force....moves around them in a way I can't explain. The Dark Side is with them but...not." His eyes snapped open and he spoke plainly to the woman who stood behind him. "Grab the bag. When I give you the signal, run. Do not wait for me, keep running until I catch up. I'm not sure how long I can keep this up...." He glanced back at her, as his crystal blue eyes rolled into a sea of burning Amethyst. The Dark Side flowed to him like water released from a flood gate. "Keep my lightsaber close to you, go." Adron's feet clamped into the ground as he pushed Alessandra back from him. His hand went back, pressing into her chest, it would probably hurt but they did not have time to be gentle.

From the trees, calamity breached and rained down on them. There had not been five, more along the lines of ten of these beings clad in black and gold robes. Their faces were covered by cowls of gold and they held weapons of an odd design. Long ebony spears with a hooked scythe at the end bore down upon the two, however they never met their mark.

Long streaks of purple lightning danced around Adron and Alessandra, striking these warriors just as they landed down in the clearing. Adron's eyes were keen and focused, as if the world around him had melted away. His hands swayed in a rhythmic pattern as the storm of lightning fired these men back into the trees. He could feel the reaches of the Dark side empowering him, but regardless he knew this display would only last as a distraction. Because not one of the men his bolts struck had been killed, and even now he could see others moving in the jungle around them. "Go!" He commanded to Alessandra, feeling his power reaching it's breaking point.

[member="Alessandra Creed"]

 

[Alessandra Creed]

[member="Adron Malvern"]​

“Adron?”

He never ignored her. Not ever. A soft sense of nagging worry began to eat a hole through her with every moment that passed. When her arms wrapped around him she was careful not to aggravate whatever it was that bothered him before reaching for the Force. Her lips found the middle of his back, pressing a tender kiss to his spine, before invisible forces sought to bolster his resolve and lessen his pain. There was something wrong in his side. That was the area she tried to treat the most.

Eventually, he thanked her, and the raven-haired woman only brushed her lips sleepily against him again. She was insufferably weak, exhausted, but, she was glad to be able to do something for him.

When he saw the shadows, saw movement, she felt it. The Minister wouldn’t have been able to put it into words but there was a sudden sense of danger she couldn’t ignore. She pretended outwardly not to notice. When Adron spoke about numbers, squeezing her hand, she closed her eyes for a moment. Five? At least? They were at a distinct disadvantage. He tried to explain what he felt and she allowed her senses to splay out like little-reaching fingers. Her range was stunted from strain and stress but she could still see what he saw…”I understand. I feel it too.”

He told her to grab their things and run. Alessandra wanted to protest. She didn’t want to leave him behind, even if, he seemed confident he could catch up. The Dark Side moved in her lover and her head bowed as she started to pull away from the comforting scent of liquid power. He moved swiftly, turning, so that he could push her behind him—but they were already here. For a moment she couldn’t move. The men in black and gold were blocking her path. Her hand fell to the lightsaber that Adron had clipped to her belt the night before and felt the incredible urge to draw it free.

For the time being, she didn’t have to, as they were protected by amethyst projections of lightning. Between the light, between flashes of onyx spears, and waving trees in the dark—she could see what they were vastly outnumbered. There were more than the original ten. They simply blended in with the shadows and hid themselves within the Force so well that she could scarcely track them.

It was disconcerting. Worrying.

When Adron gave her the command to move Alessandra was already darting away. The Minister scrambled backward and picked up their pack as she’d been told. A practiced movement toward herself pulled the blankets up as well and the fabric met her in midair while she wrapped them around her arm. They literally couldn’t afford to lose anything. Meager rations, water, and a small number of medical supplies could be the only things that stood between them and a cruel end.

Alessandra chose to trust the Minister of War. He wouldn’t let them take him, or kill him, because if that happened she would be all alone. Adron wouldn’t do that. Wouldn’t risk it. With that in mind, she began to run in the direction they had started walking the in the day before. Her heart leaped to her throat and the vigorous exercise didn’t do her any favors. It was only with sheer willpower that she kept moving forward.

Chancing a glance behind her she realized that several of their attackers had broken away from the lightning spewing Sith Lord. She swore under her breath. Her abilities were tied to the readiness of her physical form. It was just like any other function of the body. If one system was compromised the other would suffer. She ducked, briefly, beside a log and tucked away the blankets while she waited to be found. Her hands formed a circle where light began to form. Alessandra molded it, shaped it, as her chocolate eyes became impossibly dark…

No sound left her, however, she did launch a decent sized fireball at the back of one of the men. It hit and the concussive force behind it caused him to fly head first into a tree. Alessandra swallowed. It was a good hit, strong, but she would only be able to conjure so often.

Alessandra began to move forward again. Adron would be right behind her. She pulled his lightsaber from her belt and held it carefully. She knew how to use one. It just wasn’t her preferred weapon of choice. Her voice would ring in his ears whilst she tried to find somewhere safe to hide. She was still on the mend, as he was, and she wouldn’t be able to run forever. ‘Come back to me…’

 

[Adron Malvern]

Darth Malphas. Awaken. His Master's words echoed in his mind.

As his hands washed through the air, releasing hellish streaks of Force Lightning Adron remembered who he was and the power he commanded. Most importantly he remembered why he commanded this power and what end it held. They would never touch her. The warriors who attacked them scattered, some falling to the ground lifelessly while the others retreated back into the trees. They were skilled hunters, trackers, and formidable warriors. Their powers were nothing to that of a Sith Lord. Finally Adron reached his limit. His hands fell and the power that sprang from them all but faded. His legs were weak and his head felt like it had spent the better part of a morning underneath a repulsor. His eyes continued to scan the area, watching closely for any more of these warriors. He glanced down to one of the corpses that laid before him. It had slim streaks of steam rising from under the tattered cloth that covered it. With a soft grunt Adron leaned down, pulling at the man's cowl.

The face that was underneath was a human's. A man who seemed midway through his life. His head was shaved and his face was covered with several different brands. Peculiar little circles that had been burned into his features. Covering his face back up Adron looked to the weapon that was across from the corpse. It was better than nothing.

Taking the spear into his grip, Adron stood and immediately moved out of clearing. They needed to get far away from here. These men had proper clothing and weapons. Which meant they were not just some savage warriors living in huts or caves, they had some sort of society which meant they had the means for reinforcements. Adron could feel the pull of his lover, calling out to him with The Force. He could sense Alessandra tapping into The Force, fighting. It seemed some of those warriors must have broken off to attack her. He was going to kill every damn one of them. Through the brush, Adron could see the warrior's that were closing around Alessandra. It seemed most of them had already encountered her and in turn been burned alive. Fitting. Most of the warriors were retreating, following the lead of their brothers. However, one of them seemed to be moving in the wrong direction. Was he charging for her?

Adron's hands tightened around the war spear, leveling it in his hands as he charged forward. The curved blade of the spear sliced through the warrior's back, digging deep into his spine and cutting off his own attack. Adron grunted as he felt the warrior's body twist and writhe as it collapsed down onto the ground below them. He planted his boot on the warrior's back, his amethyst eyes looking over Alessandra searchingly. "Are you ok?" Adron asked. There was no chance of missing the sincerity in his tone, yet it was admitadely covered up by unyielding rage. Adron's hand opened and he tapped into The Force, the warrior beneath his boot let out a blood curdling scream as Adron's hand slowly closed into a fist. It only took a moment, but there was a loud snap as his spine was crushed beneath the weight of The Force. Adron, soaked in sweat and his eyes still reflecting the corruption of the Dark Side, spat down onto the warrior. "Never touch her." Prying the spear from his target's back, Adron let out a deep sigh before holding his hand out to Alessandra. "We need to go, now. We're running out of time."

​

Over the next few days Adron and Alessandra would continue to move through the forest, keeping to the course that led them to the other half of their starship. On the fourth day they would encounter the Illyrian warriors once again. This led them into a vicious game of cat and mouse where the two were forced to fight the warriors off on a daily basis. These skirmishes only made it that much harder for the two of them to continue on andeventually they would be forced to halt their advance. Giving them a few more days to rest and gather provisions, when the sun rose on their seventh day on Illyria the two would be prepared for wha was to come. ​

​

​

Adron's eyes flickered open. The mornings on this world were hellishly loud and it only added to the Exarch's hatred of their situation. Pushing himself up from the mass of blankets that was under them, Adron took a moment to drink in their surroundings. They had spent the past few nights in a small cave that was hidden by a waterfall that fell right over them. It drowned out a bit of the noise but it was not nearly loud enough to provide any type of peace. There is no Peace. He reminded hismelf before looking over to Alessandra, who was still fast asleep. He couldn't help but smile a bit when he looked over her. Maybe there is some peace. He rubbed her shoulder softly before looking to the edge of the cave. Their fire was nothing more than a smoldering pile of ash, a small trail of smoke spilling into the waters that fell beside it. They wouldn't need the fire anyway. After their last battle with this planet's warriors they decideed the best thing for them to do was recover some energy and gather a few more recourses. Today marked the end of that hiatus. He was not back at full strength, but he was probably the best he had been while on this planet. Laying back down next to Alessandra, Adron stretched out before wrapping his arm around Alessandra. They could at least wait a few more hours. It seemed the sun was not even over the horizon yet.

[member="Alessandra Creed"]

 

[Alessandra Creed]

​

[member="Adron Malvern"]​

She could sense the essence of something deeply powerful rolling through the forest. The deep, empty darkness, made it feel as if the not-yet morning was almost alive. The shadow that she felt, above all others, was that which belonged to the Minister of War. Adron. She shook her head slowly and hoped that he didn’t burn out too quickly. Sith tended to err on the side of large displays of incredible abilities. They operated in a way that expressed how very finite the lives of their enemies were.

The raven-haired woman had no doubts that he would be able to kill many of those that hunted them.

It was a matter of how long he could keep killing them.

Alessandra moved as quickly as she was able. The side of her stomach had begun to ache and a sense of exhaustion was already sweeping through her. She felt cold. Clammy. Every fire-ball that sent one of her robed attackers into oblivion took a larger piece of her stamina. With that in mind, she tried to be conservative. Hide when she could. Attack, when she couldn’t.

The angry little natives seemed to be everywhere.

When the fighting seemed to lull the young woman knelt down low and took a chance to breathe. Her hand rest against the truck of a tree, giving her balance, and a little bit of cover. She didn’t know that one of the shifting men was coming up behind her. At least, not until he went down, with Adron standing above him. “I’m fine—Five by five.”, her voice was strained, a little bit pained, but she was telling the truth. She was breathing. She didn’t have any additional holes in her person.

She was fine enough.

His anger was a sight to behold. In some ways, she admired it, while others reminded her to tread carefully. The Dark Side had a way of manipulating those who thought they had something to lose. The Creed woman didn’t bat an eye at the brutality displayed. Neither when it happened nor when the man released a keening wail of pain. If anything she was trying to think of a way to use what they had. As the robed man bled heavily from the strike to his back and his subsequently crushed spine an idea began to percolate. There was power in blood. It would be a shame to waste it.

“Just a moment.”, she whispered to Adron, reaching into the pack for anything she could use as a container. Alessandra didn’t need much, for this gift, but she did need it to be warm. And she needed fear. Her hand went to the man’s forehead and she whispered a few words that would be difficult to catch. All at once, the bleeding man, with the gold mask seemed to stiffen and scream from something other than his injuries…“Trust me. Please....”

Blood.

With the way they were being attacked, day after day, there was always a fresh supply. Alessandra used it to ward their hiding places from those that would do them harm. It let them sleep soundly at night and rest when needed. The arcane symbols that she drew around the entrances and exits burned away once the deed was done. Her glamours and protection rituals were not as good as her mothers, however, they were close. If one of the robed men crossed their threshold they would become afflicted. Cursed. Vital organs, unless they retreated immediately, would seize and liquefy.

With the right ingredients, it took less of a toll on the young woman that if she had tried to use her own blood. As far as the noise from the waterfall, or the world they now occupied, the Minister of Commerce seemed to be getting used to it. When she lay down beside Adron after a long day she was often asleep within minutes. Fatigue combined with a lack of proper nutrition was hard. She had less muscle, less fat to burn than Adron, but it didn’t make it any more comfortable for either of them.

Regardless, they managed. They fought. They rested. They smiled, when the night wasn’t quite so dark, or, when the other wasn’t looking. Alessandra stirred a little bit when Adron rubbed her shoulder. She didn’t snore, but, she did breathe deeply. Sometimes she even spoke when she slept. Cute, kittenish words, for someone that was using fear-laced blood to cast Sith spells daily. She felt arms wrap around her and a small purr rose from the back of her throat. “…Morning…”

Her voice was all velvet, thick, and laden with smoke from a deep sleep. She cuddled back against him, pressing generous hips into his, while pulling his arm more firmly around her body. That was better. Warmer. Alessandra needed him. He was the only reason, truly, that she’d managed to heal so well. He was the only reason she wanted to. Otherwise, the temptation to give up might have swallowed her whole. Their connection through the Force breathed with life and her sweet sigh was a loving one…

“How did you sleep?”

 

[Adron Malvern]

Adron had closed his eyes once again as Alessandra spoke to him. He was content. There was no reason to rush into the morning. Alessandra's morning voice was like silk, spilling into the cave and making it all just a little warmer. He pulled her closer into his chest, practically without a thought. Stifling a yawn, he braced his arm against the ground so his head did not have to lay on the ground any more than it had. "Slept well enough." He said with a slight shrug. As she pressed into him, her hips rolling back he could not help but clear his throat a bit. The morning always brought a certain energy and her position did not help. He decided against saying anything and simply laid there with her, enjoying the closness they shared. "What about you? Seems you've been sleeping well." He looked to the rune-like symbols she had placed near the mouth of the cave. Her magic had been one of the reasons they had been able to rest in peace for a few days, luckily it had not required her own sacrifice. "Are you sure those things won't have any effect on you?" He asked, gesturing to the runes.

There was something about this day that made Adron remember his childhood. It was not quite the same, but this was a bit like his survival training as a young Jedi Padawan. Propping himself up, he evened himself over Alessandra so he could see her chocolate eyes clearly. She was the closest thing to family he had. She was all he had. His hand traced over her cheek for a moment before he leaned down to press his lips to hers. The kiss was slow and tender but quickly deepened into something more. He finally broke the kiss and smiled at Alessandra, showing her a knowing smile. "You know. We have some time before we need to head out."

"Be a shame to waste the little bit of time those runes have left on them." He chuckled, before leaning down and pressing his lips to hers once more. This time they would come with something more, a hunger that came with the early morning and a beautiful woman.

[member="Alessandra Creed"]

 

[Alessandra Creed]

[member="Adron Malvern"]

If it hadn’t been evident before they’d crashed on the backwater hellhole, Ale, loved to be close to him in these quiet moments. The mantle of being a government official fell away and they could simply exist as they were. No questions, no judgment. It had only been a few days but the raven-haired beauty felt closer to Adron than she ever had. It wasn’t simply because he was the only one there, or, she was the only woman available. It was the lack of distraction. She had been the chance to know him for who he was over the man he had to be for the Confederacy.

In response to him clearing his throat she curled back tighter, shoulders wiggling, so she could tuck herself neatly against his body. She always enjoyed his warmth. When she was caught in those early moments between wakefulness and sleep it tricked her into thinking she was sleeping somewhere with a much higher thread count. It was also, despite the circumstances, enjoyable not to wake up alone.

“You’re here…”, she breathed out gently, still, too tired to think about how her tone may come across. “So I feel safe. I probably sleep a lot better than you do…”

The little comment he made about her blood magic rituals was something she ignored. Could she keep it up forever? No, definitely not. But as long as they had fresh blood, full of fear, to draw from? Alessandra would make it work. There was a reason she slept so heavily, but, it let them both rest peacefully. It was worth it to have these little, stolen moments, where they could let their guard down.

Adron sat up a little and she turned her frame so that she could see him better. She slid to her back nuzzled her cheek into his hand. He would feel her feathery dark eye-lashes tickle his palm when he did so. When he kissed her, finally, the young woman melted beneath him as her heart swelled with affection. Alessandra woke up as his lips swept away rational thought. Whatever he wanted to do, she felt it long before words followed, and she could only smile into his mouth as she let her mind brush against his. ‘Waste not want not…’

She would rather let their minds find a particular rhythm to speak to one another over breaking the kiss a third time. Alessandra wanted her lungs to burn, wanted his warmth to wrap around her, and consume everything she was.

Not, before she had a little fun, however.

The Serenno man would find himself pushed back by a force far stronger than the woman beneath him. Telekinetic hands would grasp at him, pulling him to his back, whilst the Minister flowed forward so she could sit across his lower stomach. Her teeth found his lower lip that she didn’t hesitate to bite before smoothing the pain away with another caress. The same telekinetic force that had turned him in the first place would snap one his hands back, before doing the same to the other, effectively pinning Adron to the stone floor.

‘Be good for me.’, her voice purred in the back of his mind, dropping every pretense, so that he would feel her emotions clearly. There was nothing running through her mind suitable for any conversation, save, for that which existed behind closed doors. Alessandra moved her lips from his to tease around his jaw and follow the strong line of his neck.

‘Or else.’

 

[Adron Malvern]

Alessandra had been doing leagues better in the past few days. It seemed that the Bacta had almost been completely purged from her systems and she was quickly returning to her old self, strength wise. Adron did notice that she intentionally dodged his question about her blood magic. He would scold her later, for now they could enjoy what she had provided for them.

His lips met hers and he was able to drink in the oddly sweet scent she held. Almost a week in the jungle and still she smelled like a flower, freshly picked and laid before him. He could hear her words dancing in his mind, drawing his kiss into a deep smile while he felt their connection deepen. It would wash over him, wash over her, The Force would slowly let their minds meld into one single focus to where every touch, every kiss was amplified and empowered. Adron’s tongue brushed against Alessandra’s and the sensation that shot through the man caused him to pause.

In that pause Alessandra made her own move. The Force took hold of him, rolling him onto his back so that Alessandra could sit over his lower stomach. His eyes showed a challenging glimmer yet he never said a thing. He simply peered at her with an almost hungering gaze. Their lips connected once more and Adron’s hand would brush against Alessandra’s upper thigh. It was fleeting, both hands would become bound to the ground above him with The Force. He glanced up before arching a brow at the woman, speaking without using his voice, touching her mind. ‘Enjoying yourself?’ What sort of question was that to be posed to the Minister of Commerce, she was always enjoying herself. At least with him she was. The low purr of her voice caused him to chuckle audibly, before he felt the soft warm press of her lips against his jaw. ‘You should know by now…’ She would notice his hands freeing themselves. A minor exertion on The Force, it was not as if Alessandra was trying her hardest to restrain him, which had been her mistake.

A hand pressed against her back and another took hold of her waist while he rolled her onto the ground. He used his own hands to pin hers to the ground. She had always been so strong, however her strength would never surpass his, not when it was backed by a more base emotion. He leaned down, pressing his lips to hers and in a single moment opened his mind. He would not allow any barriers between them. He held her hands with one of his own, wrapped around her slender wrists. As his free hand brushed against her neck and trailed down to her chest he could not help but smile. ‘I like being bad.’

​

Time and passion would pass and the morning would creep into the day. Adron stood, pulling his hair into a tight ponytail as he had done for the past few days. Without the aid of gel his hair had seemed extremely longer than usual. Usually he kept it neatly tailored, an impossibility on this planet. He glanced over to Alessandra with a pleased expression. “Ready to go?” He asked, bending down to retrieve his shirt that had been parted with. Adron turned from Alessandra, glancing out the cave, searching for any sign of an outside presence. As he turned she would bear witness to the many scars that streaked across his body. Many were the results of blasters, yet there was a noticeable lightsaber scar near his abdomen. A gift from his dearest friend. The blaster marks, while faded and more in tone with his skin were a result of his childhood and several assassination attempts. There was also the long thin traces of nail marks that seemed to have some small beads of crimson hanging from them. Adron pulled his shirt on, glancing to Alessandra with a nod. “It’s clear.”

[member="Alessandra Creed"]

 

[Alessandra Creed]

He made a mistake. He paused, briefly, and it was all Alessandra needed to change the level of control. If she were a human in truth she might not have been able to turn the tables so easily. Her bones were Epicanthix strong. Heavy. She laughed slightly while he watched her. His eyes were a piercing blue that seemed to change shade with his mood. When he wanted her and his mind was tipping off the edge of what might be deemed appropriate for polite company—they grew darker. Like a blue-black bit of sky in the latest hour of the evening. He mentally queried if she was enjoying herself and he would feel her laugh as much as hear it in the back of his mind… ‘Always.’

Adron pulled free of the light Force bonds that pinned his wrists to the stone surface while her lips made a trail of fire down his jaw. She didn’t stop or resist. She hadn’t wanted to harm him or trap him. Not truly. Half the fun lay in winding her lover up until he seemed to come undone. Her lips were pulled into a mischievous grin whilst he turned the tables, and suddenly, the cool cavern floor was beneath her. It wasn’t too bad through the blankets they’d confiscated from their downed ship but even still the chill was there.

His mind brushing against her own was always a welcome addition to her morning. There was something planet-shattering that occurred when he kissed her and the natural mental shielding that her people possessed melted, crashing down, to let him in. In those few moments where his teasing registered in her mind, the Sith woman didn’t bother responding. His hands to her skin left a trail of need in their wake…And by the time she could formulate a reply? It didn’t matter. She was already lost.

The cool water that poured down from the waterfall above actually felt good on her sore muscles and back. Sleeping on the ground left a lot to be desired, though, there were other reasons she took a little more time than she should have. Regardless, she returned to dress, wringing out her hair as she went before swiftly folding it back into an inverted braid. It was better to keep it secure. There was nothing worse than leaving it free to get caught in some low hanging branch.

Alessandra was not a fan of the wild outdoors.

When Adron asked if she was ready to go she nodded her head, buttoning the cannibalized uniform, before reaching down to secure her boots. The items were already starting to show wear and tear. So far there hadn’t been much of a change in season, though, she worried about that. The nights weren’t too cold yet but she could only imagine how difficult things would become. They might need to start taking clothing from the corpses they left behind. Which mean, getting creative in killing them, so they didn’t burn and or rip the rough looking fabric.

The young woman had indeed noticed the scars that lined Adron’s frame. She had traced many of them with her fingers throughout the longer nights, curious, proud, and a little sad that he had endured so much. She had also caught sight of the marks that were new. She crossed the blankets, leaning over, and kissed the back of his neck once his back was hidden with the shirt she had been happy to liberate him from. “It’s clear for now.”, she amended, trying, not let on that she was already dreading the new dangers of the day.

The people of this world were relentless. They kept sending group after group of masked warriors to try and tear them apart. Sometimes, they got lucky, and noticed them early. Other times…They were not so lucky. The warriors were skilled, but moreover, their Force Signatures were spotty. They were hard to track. At the very least they’d managed to pick up quite the collection of decent weapons. Primitive when compared to what the Confederacy produced—But more than sufficient to fend off their would-be attackers. It let her save her energy for the wards.

This cave was only one of many places they had found and secured as they traveled. Little hovels, safe spots, where they could breathe and relax. Spots with fresh water, fruit, and small game. Almost habitually, she began to pack their things, before picking up a golden metal glaive that was leaning against the cave wall. The primitives had dropped all sorts of things. Daggers. Knives. Short swords. Glaives, and pikes. She liked this one the best.

“Which way will we go today?”

[member="Adron Malvern"]

 

[Adron Malvern]

​

[member="Alessandra Creed"]​

​

He'd heard Alessandra speak but his eyes and mind had been in another place entirely. The Dark Side sent hushed whispers into his mind, speaking unintelligible phrases to him. He'd try to decipher this mass of voices he'd never heard before but when he could not his eyes narrowed at the entrance of the cave. He'd cleared his mind, for the third time, and nothing seemed to have entered his mind without his knowledge. So what were these voices? These whispers? This had been the first time Adron had noticed it, yet the pull of the Dark Side was so strong. Freshly washing over him he drew his back into a tight stretch while his lips spread into a thin smile. "Can you feel it?" He asked Alessandra, spreading his arms open to greet the power that was pouring into him. No, this could not be something they missed, it was something new.

Leveling his eyes against the wooded mass before him he stepped into the open, his eyes dancing from one shadow to another. Did the savages dare attack them now? Could they even feel the power of the Dark Side.

Adron's eyes turned as a flock of birds flew overhead, cawing loudly as they rushed high into the skies. They were midnight black, fluttering for the heavens above. The direction they had fled? When Adron pressed out with The Force he could feel the Dark Side spilling from that direction. It opened its arms to him, welcomed him, needed him. "There." He said, finally before glancing back to Alessandra. He'd not recognized it but the Dark Side has taken up host in his body once again, turning his azure eyes a pure shade of amethyst. He could feel the revitalization, the strength it blessed him with.

His hand wrapped around Alessandra's wrist as he pulled her close to him. When next their lips would meet, he would pour this power into her. Using their bond as a nexus for the Dark Side of the Force and giving her the gift he was not sure she could salvage on her own. When finally he'd drank in her scent for the final time, he pulled from her, licking the taste of her from his lips as his eyes gazed at her longingly. Shame they had already exited the cave.

He pressed a hand to her cheek for the briefest of moments before turning towards the jungle before them.

The terrain was growing more fierce by the minute. It seemed as if even the world itself was trying to halt their progress. Thankfully the savages had remained silent this morning, however he could feel their vague wisps in the Force and wanted nothing more than to hunt them down and destroy them. However, now his mind was turned towards other things. "We're wasting time." He told her, acknowledging what he believed Alessandra would be thinking. "I can't ignore this feeling...Something is drawing on the Dark Side and it feels...like it's calling us." Did she feel the same? He could not tell. Though they were joined, he had not pressed himself into her mind to see what laid inside. He could only hope she would trust him to do what must be done.

The forest finally gave way, revealing a clearing that spanned some miles. What laid in it's center was nothing less than staggering. A massive ziggurat, which had to have been at least twenty meters high. The metallic surface this ebony structure was made of was immediately recognizable. It had been crafted and constructed with one of the most precious metals in the galaxy, Phrik. Blood red runes adorned the temple, from base to peak it was covered in the crimson markings. It held the traits of the Ancient Sith and even now the Dark Side pooled itself to the temple and redispersed itself in random waves. The peak of this temple seemed to glow, albeit faintly, with a matching crimson hue. "It's been years since I've seen a temple like this." Adron muttered, gazing at it with some wonder in his eyes.

He turned to Alessandra, wondering what she would think of this finding. Yet when his eyes took to the jungle behind them, all he saw was golden weapons, brandished and prepared to strike. There were not ten or twenty, no. Now there were hundreds of them and they did not look happy.

 

[Alessandra Creed]

​

[member="Adron Malvern"]​

As always, things were subject to change.

The power that flowed into the area was breathtaking. It was almost redundant to ask if she could feel it. It was pure, clear, and unbridled. She could taste the moving dark, like black licorice, and she remained still for a long moment. “I can…”, she exhaled slowly, managing to regulate how the Force affected her. She welcomed it—But it would never control her. When he turned to look at her and his eyes held a familiar amethyst hue…She knew.

The birds flew overhead and she knew it was more than it seemed.

“Adron…”, she breathed, only to feel his hand wrap around her wrist, and suddenly, they were as close as they could be. He kissed her, fully, and her body warmed immediately. Alessandra melted into him and her heart began to race when she felt that same dark power move again, pouring from him, spilling over the brim like a cup that had too much liquid in it. She felt her energy levels rise while the general aches and pains she felt lessened. Her metaphysical strength seemed to even out. No longer did she feel taxed for the blood runes she had been using nightly to keep them safe.

When he pulled away—It was too soon. She caught herself swaying toward him while his eyes called her closer. That longing…She felt it to. It was so strong, so intense, that she had to dig her nails into her palms to keep from making a mistake. It wasn’t safe outside the cave.

Adron touched her cheek. He would see her jump. Flinch. Not out of pain, or fear, but simply the flow of energy that pulled between them. His touch was too much. Too good. Far, too good.

Her ardor cooled a little once they began their trek through the jungle once more. There were too many traps, too many ways to die, to keep her head in lusty clouds. Alessandra couldn’t tell what pulled her more. Not really. The power he wielded—Or him. At this point they were one in the same. She remained silent when he commented that the Force was calling them. “Singing.”, she corrected, though, dusky lashes flickered against tanned cheeks while something low in her stomach burned anew. “Screaming.”

Regardless, she would follow his lead. She let her hand fall to his back, curling in his shirt, when the path became too skinny for them to walk together. For some reason Alessandra felt like she had to touch some part of him or else the world might slide right off its axis and leave her behind. Eventually, though, the path gave way and they were greeted by the sight of a massive structure. Waves of power that could only be the Dark Side ran through the air as if on a timer. Her skin felt as if there were thousands of tiny ants crawling all over her body, marching in a line, though there was nothing there.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

No shocker there. Alessandra preferred numbers and high society over digging around in the dirt for hidden temples and Sith artifacts. She learned through different sources. Less ancient, though, no less powerful. The temple distracted her. So much so, that she didn’t realize the natives had found them until it was already too late. Whereas they’d always fought and fled before…Things had changed. “No more running…”, she murmured to Adron. Chocolate eyed flickered, before they began to glow, and a violent edge began to taint her aura.

She wasn’t weak here. Their golden weapons, happy or not, would not be enough.

“With this temple…We have everything we need.”

A phantom wave of energy blew through the area again, pulsing, and instead of remaining closed to it Alessandra let it in. Just as Adron had before. She wouldn’t have to conserve nearly as much of her strength as she had before. Not while this temple acted like a battery. The dark-haired woman raised her hands and a high line of fire leapt into existence between themselves and the heathens. “If they want to fight…They can burn. All of them.”

Alessandra was tired of being hunted. Tired of running. Enough, was enough.