Survivors. Vreva's heart fell into her stomach as she looked to the burning wreck of the starliner. A thousand people could be within the pods littered about the ship. That changed things completely.

"Alright, we're heading in," Vreva said as she made her way down the ramp of the Nighthawk. The frozen air of Gethsemane's winter bit at her cheeks and nose, and whipped her long braids into a frenzy. A part of her was looking forward to the warmth of the hot metal debris. She pressed a few buttons on her comlink and brought up Paumgon's info. "Paum-paum? Relaying you the info on the pods. Think you can get the ship close enough to triage?"

"Haummmm... Not sure. Storm's starting to pick up. Can land, but I'm not sure when we'll be able to pick back up again."

Vreva scowled as she pushed through the drifts of snow. "Don't chance it, then. Keep near the Nighthawk and bring the gear around to me. Gonna need saws to get through all this durasteel." After an affirmative harumph from the herglic, the call disconnected. Time to get to work.

The zabrak picked through the wreckage, careful not to touch the blazing red durasteel. Sweat dripped from her brow as she affixed her goggles and mask. She did not want to breathe in whatever was coming off the ship components. The durasteel was superheated red in some parts, barring her path. She avoided these sections and used an amplified leap here and there to reach the broken core of the ship. The hologram at her wrist led the way to the first pod, a solid monolith among the twisted ribs of the starliner.

With a snarl of effort, Vreva shoved a sheet of alloy away from the pod door. A few tries to key in the code provided no reaction. The lights on the keypad flickered and dimmed before shutting down completely. That was not a good sign.

"Hey Paum, what do I do if the keypad don't work?" she asked as she held her comm to her mouth. Static came in response. No doubt the storm was causing interference. Just what she needed.

She slammed her fist into the keypad and broke off its front panel. The wires inside proved a futile puzzle as she zapped her fingers a few times trying to disconnect them. Okay, Plan C. Brute force.

Kicking the door down was not the best plan, but it was a plan. She regretted it immediately, however. Pain shot up her leg and she swore in Zabraki. Thankfully heavy footfalls signaled the appearance of her herglic companion with supplies. "Umm... Brought tools." Paum lifted the crate between his hands.

Vreva propped her feet up on the wall of the Nighthawk, braids dangling down past her seat. She watched the others from her topsy-turvy view as they gathered their things for the mission ahead. Everything she needed was with her pack. Her rifle was already cleaned and loaded, her blade sharpened.

She was so bored.

"Blood rushing to your head, yet?" Paum mused as he checked his pack.

"Not yet," she replied, though when she righted herself she felt just the slightest bit of nausea. She exhaled with a deep sigh as she bounced her knee. "When the kark are we getting there? Want to get this cleanup done so we can count the creds and be on to the next."

"On to the next?"

"I need to kill something."

Paum let out a whoosh of air through his blowhole. "Vreva. Not every mission has to be to the death. Creds are creds."

"Not for me." Vreva drew one knee up to her chest and wrapped her arms around it. She stared ahead at the far wall and refused to meet whatever look he gave her.

She could still hear the disappointment in his tone. "Vreva..."

"You knew what you signed up for, big guy. Just let me complain." She dragged her pack closer and started to sort out its contents on the seat beside her. Anything to keep her focus elsewhere. Paum wouldn't understand. He couldn't.

"How about a spar when we get back? You and me, like old times. Get some of that energy out."

"It's not that." Her brow furrowed as she returned each item in the same haphazard jumble within her pack.

"You want a challenge."

"I want to kill something." Vreva's yellow eyes turned on Paum. His own ruddy hues met her intimidating glare with a calmness that stifled her anger.

"What's wrong?" Paum asked.

His words caused her fire to flare again. Her nose wrinkled. "Nothing."

"Just a murderous streak?"

"I'm a paid murderer, Paum-Paum. It's what I do."

"You're more than a killer, Vreva."

Vreva laughed loud at that. Loud enough for others to glance her way. She gave a manic grin, daring them to say anything. This is what they paid her for. A Sith. A weapon.

"Didn't think you'd drink before a mission," she said in a biting snarl. Vreva knew it wasn't the truth, and Paum didn't flinch from her words. They both knew she was deflecting, concealing herself from him.

"If only. Might make this trip go by faster." Paum chuffed, then placed a large hand on the zabrak's shoulder. She shrugged off his touch as if burned by it, and his expression turned to a deep frown.

It hurt her in turn to see him so hurt, though she refused to give up her vitriol. "Let's just focus on the mission ahead," she said bitterly as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Get this done, and see what comes next."

Paum remained silent at that and mirrored her stance. It was a quiet trip to Gethsemane.

"How about two truths and a lie?" Luka asked, their voice slightly slurring on the last two words. They slid into the space left on the couch beside Yeoni. Somehow they had managed not to spill a drop of their drink as they sidled up under the Kiffar's arm.

Moogan tea. Luka had requested it each time since their first date. A new favorite. Yeoni had picked well, it seemed. It wasn't very likely that the game was necessary for Luka to talk about themselves. The human had grown so comfortable in his presence, and the drinks helped things along. The Kiffar still chose to humor his date. "Why don't you go first and show me how to play?"

Luka sat up quickly and jostled their drink. To some miracle once more, nothing spilled. Yeoni breathed a sigh of relief that went unnoticed by his human companion. "Alright!" they said with a wide smile. They took a sip of their drink and then set it on the table. Yeoni subtly pushed the glass closer to the table's center.

"Didn't think I'd go first. Hold on..." They settled back down against Yeoni and dangled their legs over the arm of the couch.

Yeoni carded his fingers through Luka's hair. They always seemed to enjoy that, touch and attention. Not unlike the Nexu that curled up on the unoccupied bed. "We have all night," Yeoni said with a chuckle. "I don't have to get up early." Luka shivered as goosebumps rose on their skin. Yeoni's head tilted to the side. "Cold?"

"No, I'm fine. Distracted."

"Distracted?"

"By you." Luka looked up at Yeoni through those long lashes. Yeoni knew this to be a deflection, from what he had seen of Luka's tells. There was more on Luka's mind.

Yeoni chose to play into it. He leaned forward to place a kiss on Luka's forehead. This was the right course of action. Luka pulled him in for another kiss, deeper. Their respiration had increased, a heat to their skin. They enjoyed this.

"I'm not sleeping with you," Luka spoke with a heavy breath. Yeoni raised a brow, and Luka gave a soft slap against Yeoni's cheek. They then pointed up at him with a scolding glare. "Don't you look at me with those beautiful eyes of yours. I'm drunk."

"Do you still want me to stay, or should I go home?"

"No. You can stay. I... I wanted you to. I want you to."

It seemed difficult for Luka to speak. Yeoni decided to press, curious as to why. "Would you like me to stay the night? We don't have to do anything."

"I would like that." Again, the words seemed to struggle in their throat.

Yeoni wrapped an arm around Luka. An offer of comfort that Luka sunk into with a shaking breath. "Two truths and a lie," said Yeoni as he gave their arm a squeeze. "What are you thinking about right now?"

"Sex." Luka glanced up through those lashes again. Then their gaze unfocused before drifting to the right. They brushed their fingers against the scar on their neck, over the raised marks of teeth. "This." No further explanation was given, but Luka's tone implied a bitter story. "And you. Always you, nowadays." They reached out to touch him so tentatively, so softly. Yeoni pressed against that hand. He noticed tears starting at the corners of Luka's eyes.

"Come here." A warm tone. More comfort. Luka accepted it and buried themselves in it as they climbed into Yeoni's lap. The Kiffar's arms shrouded them in his warmth as he held them close. "We don't have to do anything tonight, but can I kiss you?"

Luka nodded but said nothing in response. Yeoni placed a gentle kiss on their temple and felt their held breath at his neck. "We don't have to do anything tonight," he repeated. "You're safe here." His lips to that scar earned a shiver from Luka. He then placed his hands on either side of Luka's head as he held their gaze. Tears streamed down and muddied their makeup, but a smile played upon their features. Yeoni smiled as well. "I love you."

There was a brief moment when Yeoni thought he had said those words too soon. Luka seemed almost startled. Their brown eyes were wide and searching for an answer as if written in Yeoni's gaze. Finding nothing there, they took their answer from his mouth. Their kiss was wet from their crying and desperate for the love found in his words.

A game easily won.