[sylvanSpider]

As Riola stretched, Mendez rubbed his neck. It was sore, the pain only increasing with every minute passing. Bruises were no fucking joke, and this was worse than any bruise that Atrix had managed to give him. She might actually be a little pissed when she sees it. But then, Mendez himself didn't even get to see the damage and he wasn't sure he wanted to. The important thing was that he was breathing and that those metallic fingers were no longer wrapped around his neck. He'd deal with the consequences as they came. A smile did creep to his face and he snorted, “Hermano, I thought you didn't want to know that? I'm not gonna tell you how close or far away from the truth you might be.”

When the pair were far enough away from the door that their voices wouldn't carry through to the broken Ogrunu, Mendez leaned against the wall, “I don't want to do it either, but I'd rather do that than get choked out by a man three times my size. If I ever want to get choked again, I'll go to Atrix.” He laughed a bit at his own joke, smile fading when the subject turned serious. “I'm halfway there, but it's looking more and more like Mama's dream of an egalitarian Edensia is just too far away. I want to say that we'd see it in our life time, that you can take Rosalind to see your homeland while being safe yourself. But, I don't think we'll see it. Not in our lifetime anyway.” He looked down as he slid onto his haunches. They'd be approaching their destination soon, and he needed all the bit of rest he could get.

“Then let's hope it doesn't. Something tells me that man's seen a lot of shit that would cause PTSD in even the strongest. Ashi said...something about it targeting her specifically though. It leads me to believe Daowei and Edensia are working together. Going for a twofer by going after the terrorists and the princess? If that's the case, we've gotta get real good at running and hiding, and we've got to do it fast.” he sighed, squeezing the bridge of his nose, “The two new felis can leave. Their faces aren't yet associated with ours. I doubt Rosalind is gonna let them stay on the ship without first making them aware of the danger they're in. As for Fikri? I think he needs this. He needs some sort of outlet that's not...ehm...what he's been doing.”

/////

Ashi blinked, processing Hyun's words. She was priority number one? The princess was certainly grateful for that, but she didn't feel like she deserved it. Shaldag had been a part of Hyun's life long before Ashi ever came into the picture; they'd been through everything together. Ashi was only plucked up recently by chance and seemed to be the sole source of their problems. Had she not shown up? Yeah, Hyun would be down a couple billion qanta, but Shaldag would be all in one piece and the gang would still be in operation. “I think at this point we're all inseparable. I would never fight Shaldag for your love, because I know you are capable of loving more than one person in different ways,” the princess said at some length, offering her girlfriend a small, pained smile. “I'm...fine,” she said with a resolute nod, “We'll be in the pools soon and this pain will only be a memory. I just hope they...I hope they can take away Shaldag's pain and keep him alive.”

Ashi followed Hyun's gaze to their friend and bit her lip. Seeing him, it was hard to keep hope. He was breathing, yes, by some miracle, but he looked like he was barely holding on. If he was going to make it, it was going to be due to sheer spite and a need to get back at those that took Toka. “Well, we could stay with the crew of the Odyssey,” Ashi said, closing her eyes, “They're going after the Edensians. If we're not with them, Shaldag will go after them himself, and that will get him killed. With Riola's knowledge of Edensian policies...this common enemy...we might be able to see something come out of it.”

She opened her eyes looking to her girlfriend, “You really think Shaldag will be okay with going somewhere neutral to hide until this all blows over? Toka was precious to him. They will have to pay for Shaldag to rest.”

/////

Rosalind's eyes were glued to the screens, shifting from one to other, thoughts that would typically be kept private now narrated out loud with a thick Pyran accent. “'An now, ye see 'ere on this map 'ow close we are? We 'ave t'leave 'yperspace in the next ten seconds or we'll miss our window,” she explained, hands deftly working around a variety of buttons and levers. The ship seemed to slow to a crawl in a matter of seconds, but her piloting prevented any sudden lurches and she pointed out the window, “There's our destination. Ah'm gonna walk ye through landing.”

As the ship was making its descent into the planet's gravitational pull, Rosalind sat back and grinned at Atrix, “Well, the one with the most experience'd be Riola, then maybe Mendez. Problem es, Riola an' I 'aven't 'ad much time t'ourselves...”

////

Fikri nodded to Magali and bowed his head. He knew he had to face it at some point, but looking at the bloodied former slave before him he knew that it was something he really did not want to do, especially considering the fact that Hyun had some sort of strong animosity against him. He followed, sighing.

At the five minute mark, Magali knocked on the door to the makeshift medbay.