Taris

[Tavelon]

Blackstone was unceremoniously shooed out of the shuttle, and no sooner had he looked around, then he noticed several things: The shuttle door closed behind him, several security guards approached him and a dark figure emerged from the shadows.

 

He paused as he was addressed by both the guard and the shadowy figure. Unsure what to do, he nodded toward the security guards and paused to consider the matter. After a moment of silence, Blackstone looked up.

 

Mind racing with excuses, alibis and lies to cover up his work with Black Sun, he stood in silence as the hooded figure explained the situation calmly. Blackstone nodded again to confirm Horatio's statement. Apparently he knew what he was doing. While feeling a little confused by the recent changes of events in his life, Blackstone did know this: As time passed, Blackstone's involvement in Black Sun was only becoming deeper.

[Tavelon]

Blackstone raised an eyebrow as he saw Horatio bribe the guard. Interesting system they had.

 

He followed the others in silence, giving an occasional nod as they went to the lower levels of the city.

 

"So..." piped up Michelle "Some weather, huh?"

 

"Not exactly an appropriate remark considering that there's no daylight here" observed Blackstone, looking around the undercity. "Unless you mean that odor wafting from- "

 

"Shut up, you two" Jason remarked flatly, looking forward. Maintaining his professional appearance, he stepped along, looking forward in a determined manner as they continued to follow Horatio.

 

"So... Horatio? Sir?" Blackstone asked, stepping ahead to the man they were following. "Where are we headed? Are there any other details regarding this mission we should be aware of yet?

[Tavelon]

Blackstone suppressed a grin at the obvious cliche, and nodded solemnly.

 

"Very well, sir, Horatio, sir.... How and where should we roll?"

 

Blackstone grimaced at his last statement. He was certainly not doing his best at making a good impression on his new commanders.

 

Blackstone took his place back in the group of people following Horatio. Stopping for the first time, he observed his surroundings. Devoid of the light of day, it presented a dark, gloomy countenance to all who visited it. Blackstone realized why the undercity of Taris was where Black Sun would deal with such missions. The unpleasant element, thick, musty air and gloomy citizens all contributed to the darkness of the city. Blackstone instinctively kept his guard up, surveying his surroundings and keeping an eye on his group.

 

"Creepy" muttered Michelle. Jason rolled his eyes and sighed. "Well, I mean, it is" Michelle responded. She shuffled toward the center of the group, wide eyes surveying the new surroundings.

 

Jason walked up to Blackstone "Sir", he addressed him "I know you and... her" he nodded his head in disdain toward the naive Michelle, "... are... well... new at this. Be mindful of your surroundings, but don't concentrate on them. You only look conspicuous." he muttered. Blackstone nodded, trying to appear natural. Michelle overheard this and sputtered, standing straight and looking forward. "Sorry" she squeaked.

 

Jason let out another sigh.

[Tavelon]

Blackstone tried to look inconspicuous, making his way forward slowly in the shadows toward the crashed speeder. Flanked by Jason and Michelle, he was advancing steadily when Khedryn opened fire. Not having time to communicate with the other group, he quickly ordered his agents to assume a firing position.

 

Blackstone's eyes darted over the street, quickly taking in the commotion before he ducked into an alleyway. The flashes from the blasterfire lighted the dim street, and Blackstone blinked as his eyes adjusted. He looked over to see that Jason and Michelle had taken refuge by a doorway and a parked speedbike respectively. He made eye contact with Jason, who looked as if he knew what to do.

 

"Take out the tall one!" Blackstone muttered into his comlink. Jason nodded, as if expecting the order, and proceeded to bide his time while waiting for an opportunity to open fire.

 

Michelle on the other hand was not faring so well. The speedbike provided poor cover, and she crawled slowly to the wall, inching toward a dumpster. Blackstone tried to contact her, but she appeared not to have heard. Trying to make eye contact, Blackstone gave a small wave. Apparantly, she was startled by the sudden firefight. Blackstone slid up the alleyway, coming toward the corner. He pulled out a DeathHammer blaster pistol slowly, easing up to the corner. Blackstone threw a rock across the street through the window of a small diner, shattering it. Taking a deep breath, he whipped around the corner, taking aim at the second guard, and squeezed the trigger.

 

<>

[Tavelon]

Blackstone looked on grimly as he and his agents dispatched the guards. He looked from his pistol to the now headless man he had shot. He was sprawled on the street, the contents of his former head looking like someone had dropped a watermelon. Blackstone shook himself, trying not to reflect on the life he had just taken. He brushed it off as one of many and put it in the back of his mind.

 

Standing up, he quickly examined the bodies. Horatio grabbed Cathryn roughly by the hair and dragged the screaming girl up. She clutched her bleeding leg, dragging behind Horatio. She made no attempt to fight back, obviously being concerned with the pain that had thus far left her royal life unhindered. Her knee scraped the ground and blood smeared across the pavement. She cried in agony and attempted to stand and keep up with Horatio and the other end of her hair. Blackstone felt a twinge of pity for this girl. Young, innocent, without a care in the galaxy, when her life takes a drastic turn like this. He looked forward and continued at a jog, trying to keep away from the sirens.

 

Michelle jogged up to Blackstone, then turned around and walked backwards for a bit, as if expecting something. "Something isn't right. That was way too easy" she muttered. Jason sighed "If anything it wasn't easy enough. That's how it's supposed to go. You follow the plan, things go smoothly" he explained, keeping up a determined stride. "Now shut up and keep moving."

 

Sirens sounded behind them ominously as the grim party pressed onward into the dark streets of Taris.

[Tavelon]

Blackstone felt an internal conflict going on. On one hand, he was just doing his job. On the other, it was very hard to focus when the sobs of the princess were permeating the street. He wished he could just give her an anesthesia. Not only would he not have to think about her, but it'd shut her up. She was more annoying than a crying child on a shuttle.

 

That said, the whine of the sirens drowned even that out, reminding Blackstone of the more important matter at hand. He couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her, but that was certainly an issue he could deal with later.

 

Michelle was obviously conflicted on this matter, too. The girl didn't seem too different from her. They might have even been friends under different circumstances, she pondered. Nah. she thought, I'd never make friends with a crybaby. She was perhaps not the most hardened or experienced warrior- on the contrary, she was a new recruit- but Michelle did have a certain spunk and love of adventure that had drawn her to joining Black Sun in the first place. Maybe she wasn't sure how she'd deal with it when times got tough, but she did know that the adventure was worth it.

 

Jason, on the other hand, had a very cold indifference to the situation. A hardened veteran, this was just procedure. He looked forward indifferently, keeping up his firm stride. "Don't even think about it" he muttered as Michelle approached Horatio and the princess. She retracted her hand that she had extended to comfort the princess and placed it back on her blaster. Jason scoffed. Compassion. That was for the weak. Jedi. Passion. That was for the Sith. Only a true warrior could harden himself from emotion and just get the job done. "Pick up the pace" he called. Blackstone agreed, even though he was the commander of the three.

 

They started jogging through the streets, diving down an alleyway every now and then to throw off pursuit. Blackstone stopped for a moment while passing a bar. He kicked down the door.

 

"What are you doing?" Jason asked sharply "Come on, hurry up" he said, starting to continue following the group. "Yeah, what's going on?" Michelle asked, looking around nervously. "We should really get going"

 

Blackstone nodded without turning to look at them. He through a gas canister through the door and fired some shots inside. Hopefully that would cause enough chaos to cause any pursuers to be distracted or perhaps thrown off for a few moments. Jason smiled and nodded, and the three continued making their getaway.

Edited August 2, 2010 by Guest

[Tavelon]

Blackstone heard the screams of the civilians pouring out of the bar behind them. He continued jogging along when a crunch permeated the sounds and a fresh wave of cries rang through the air. Blood sprayed as an LAV tore through the crowds. Instinctively, Jason dove for cover as Horatio commanded the others to do so as well.

 

Blackstone and Michelle dove at the ground, rolling away from the shrapnel of a blast from a laser cannon. Blackstone quickly surveyed the situation. Laser cannon, heavily armored transport, probably there to retrieve the princess. "Jason, copy. Do you see that alley?" he whispered into his comlink. Looking across the street he saw Jason shake his head. The LAV was scrambling their coms. Blackstone looked around to see if there was a small alley he could dive into. The LAV, while looking a little overheated, was still armored and armed with a laser cannon.

 

The filter on the front of the LAV was humming furiously as troops poured out, filling the street. They pointed their blasters around the corridor, searching for the prey that they knew was not far off. Blackstone then quietly took aim with his blaster and prepared to fire at an oncoming officer...

 

Michelle held her breath, mouthing a silent prayer, she looked down the sight of her blaster, straining to see in the dim light, she, too took aim at an officer who was scanning the street with his nightvision... she rested a finger on the trigger of her blaster and applied pressure...

 

Jason took his time, waiting to hear shots from the others before compromising their position. He waited until he had found almost suitable cover by a dumpster. Not effective at hiding from the cannon, but better than nothing. He took soft, regulated breaths and slowly aimed his blaster at the LAV, eyeing the air intake on the front, he wondered if it would be vulnerable...

 

Even the soft sob from the princess had died down. This was a fight, and she knew that she could fall victim to a blaster easily as any of them. So Blackstone surmised that she had decided to remain silent... or Horatio had simply covered her mouth.

 

Suddenly a scream came from an officer and fire erupted in the street. Blackstone hugged the ground and reached for his belt. He swiftly pulled out a concussion grenade and rolled it toward the line of men. Had he been spotted or was this only fire trying to flush them out? Or maybe one of the others had revealed the position. Not taking chances, Blackstone prepared for the sound of the explosion and took aim with his blaster to return fire...

 

<>

[Tavelon]

... Blackstone applied pressure on the trigger of his blaster, taking down a police officer with a shot to the neck. He squinted down the sights, bringing another target into view... So many officers... there had to be a way out of this.

 

Jason decided against trying to damage the LAV. It could be useful to capture. Instead, he systematically started firing shots from his cover at the dumpster. A scream told him that he had made contact, and he looked to see a trooper who he had shot in the leg. Excellent.

 

Michelle pulled the trigger on her blaster, her hand shaking. Shooting off a blaster bolt, it missed her target, punching a hole in a trash can down the street. A putrid smelling liquid started leaking out, but it was hardly noticible in contrast to the dank surroundings of the undercity. Michelle prepared to fire again, her confidence shaken (along with her hand). Trying to steady herself, she took another shot, this time hitting an officer in the foot. She rolled over to some debris from the laser cannon's shot, then emerged, ready to fire again...

 

 

Blackstone was about to squeeze the trigger on his blaster when both concussion grenades went off. Blood and shrapnel flew across the street. Blackstone was knocked back by the explosion, soon accompanied by a severed arm that landed on him. He gingerly picked himself up, removing the limb. Keeping low, Blackstone slowly moved through the debris. He looked down in disgust to find himself flecked with bits of debris, burt flesh and blood. Quickly wiping himself off, he resolved to take a good shower at the earliest opportunity. But that wasn't important at the moment. He looked around for the rest of his team, glancing nervously at the arm, wondering who it belonged to. The slap of running feet on the pavement and nervous calls indicated that the Taris police were routed- retreating on foot. Blackstone advanced, nervously. "Everyone, regroup at the LAV" he called, his comlink still not working. He stepped gingerly over dead and dying bodies, slowly making his way to the LAV. Hopefully it was abandoned.

 

 

Jason was at first taken off guard by the explosion, but like any good soldier, he knew how to react. Ducking behind the dumpster, he was showered in a wave of dust and debris. Holding his breath, he brought his shirt up to his face and took a couple breaths with the makeshift filter. He then sat back, brushing the dust out of his face, and resumed his position. Just because something exploded that didn't give everyone the right to jump out of cover. There could still be more out there. Carefully, he crept from cover as he saw Blackstone making his way across the battlefield. When he saw the Taris police routing, he stood up and approached Blackstone. "Well done. Instincts... could have been better. Be on your guard at all times. Including now. They could still be here" he said, surveying the landscape. Blackstone nodded, taking a nervous glance around the street. "Oh, yeah. Forgot about that" he responded quickly. "Where's Michelle?" he asked, looking through the debris.

 

Jason smirked "You're the commander. She's probably back there somewhere..." he said, indicating the place where they had taken cover. "..Hiding" he finished under his breath. Blackstone started walking over to that area "You check the LAV, make sure there's nothing left there" he called over his shoulder.

 

"My thoughts exactly" Jason responded. "Besides, it could be useful if it's still operable."

 

Michelle had just been aiming down her blaster when the grenades exploded. Thrown back by the blast, she took a piece of metal shrapnel in her arm. The cover she was behind was not very suitable, and the impact blew it back. When the second grenade impacted, a lamppost fell, and she felt a searing pain in her leg, coupled with the sound of a sickening crunch. She tried to scream, or at least call out for help, but she found herself choked by the dust. Her leg pinned under the lamppost, she carefully tried to extract herself from the pile of rubble. Every time she moved, however, a sharp pain moved up her leg and she let out a whimper. Eventually, she gave up and lay back on the ground. Looking to her right, she saw her blaster was broken. Feeling at her belt, she sighed in relief to see that her pistol was still intact. She heard voices and the sound of running feet. Unsure who had just won, she wasn't sure if she should reveal her position. Rather than wait to die or be captured, Michelle took out her pistol and fired a shot up to see if she could attract some attention.

 

Blackstone whirled around at the sound of the gunshot, aiming down his sights he was about to fire, but saw no enemy to shoot at. Looking down at the ground, he saw a hand poking up from behind a large pile of rubble. Moving over, he found Michelle, pinned under some debris and a large lamppost. Blackstone slung his blaster over his shoulder and extracted her from the wreckage. Coming from one of the galaxy's leading producers of bacta had it's advantages, and Blackstone had a fair knowledge of medicine. He set her down on the pavement and quickly surveyed her wounds. A piece of metal shrapnel sticking out of her arm... several abrasions and cuts... it looked like her tibia was cracked and her fibula possibly broken as well. Blackstone proceeded to carefully remove the piece of metal lodged in her arm. "Jason, can I get some help over here?" he called. Jason looked over from the LAV, nonchalantly. He nodded and started walking over, but suddenly stopped. He turned around, drew his blaster pistol and fired three shots at a pair of officers who were making a getaway. One took a shot to the head, the other was hit deliberately in the leg. "I'll get back to you later" he grinned, and came to Blackstone's assistance.

 

Michelle grimaced "Aw, this was my good jacket, too" she joked feebly. She inhaled sharply and bit her lip as the shrapnel was removed, blood flowing freely from her arm. Her jacket was now not only torn up significantly, but it had several dark red blotches on it's left arm. Jason put pressure on the wound, trying to stem the bleeding. He kept a wary eye, surveying his surroundings at all times. Every few seconds he would twitch and make a move for his pistol. "You know, we should really get moving" he muttered. "I don't have time to run a hospital here" Blackstone nodded. Trying to stabilize the leg, he made a makeshift brace. "Here, Michelle, try to stand up" he said, offering his arm. He picked her up and they started walking, her legs feebly dragging on the ground. "We have to move" Jason said impatiently. Blackstone nodded and they approached the LAV

[Tavelon]

Blackstone grimaced as he watched Travis expire. He felt bad for the man and his family, and thankful that he had not actually lost an agent. It was probably pretty hard on Khedryn to feel responsible for that. That said, Blackstone felt a small part of him inwardly curse Khedryn, too. They could have snuck up on the bodyguards, keeping the whole situation quick and clean, but Khedryn had made the situation an open firefight.

 

But that was the emotion in Blackstone, and there was certainly no time for emotion at the moment. No one was really to blame for the losses but those who fired the blasts. As for guilt... Blackstone and Khedryn would have to deal with that later. Blackstone resolved to harden himself to emotion should anything further happen to his agents, sorry as he felt for Michelle.

 

Jason walked back toward the man he had shot in the leg, who was struggling feebly. "Give it up" he said, pinning him to the ground with this foot. Blackstone rolled his eyes "Come on, Jason, we don't have time to take prisoners" Blackstone called. Jason nodded, giving the man a kick to his wounded leg, then went toward the LAV. He stopped by the front to pull a charred foot out of the front bumper then hopped into the LAV. Blackstone followed, picking up Michelle and carrying her the rest of the way to the LAV, at her protest. "Come on, I'm fine! Stop trying to be a hero" she complained. Blackstone shook his head. "I'm not trying to be a hero. You're slowing us down."

 

Michelle sighed. "Whatever. It's really not necessary" she continued. "... But if you are going to cary me, would you mind going a little easier on the leg? It sorta hurts" she asked. Blackstone suppressed a smile. Why did she join Black Sun? This was probably not her thing. He hauled her into the LAV and set her down. Blackstone took a seat, noticing he was covered in blood. He quickly checked himself for wounds, but apart from minor abrasions, he was unharmed. Other soldiers blowing up and carrying a bleeding agent had stained his clothes, but he himself was unharmed. Blackstone surveyed the inside of the LAV.

 

"Does anyone know how to drive this thing?"

 

Someone apparently took the controls, as they began speeding off towards the shuttle. One obstacle down... how many more to go?

[Tavelon]

Blackstone sat, exhausted, holding his head in his hands. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, wiping blood and sweat from his forehead. After catching his breath, he took a look at his new surroundings of the LAV. The agents were all recuperating, collapsed in he seats of the LAV.

 

Jason heaved a large sigh. He let himself go for a brief moment, collapsing into a chair. He quickly collected himself in order to maintain professionalism. He set to work, cleaning his gun and checking his ammunition. Anyone observing him could tell that he had be doing it for a long time; he systematically ran a cloth down the length of his blaster, wiping the blood and grime from every crevice. Upon reaching the stock, one of his hands reached to his belt, almost subconsciously. He checked his ammunition and grenades, his fingertips sliding over the pouches, he didn't even have to look. He looked at the charge on his blaster, counting the shots he had fired. Everything was in order. Now was the time to stay vigilant and finish the job.

 

Michelle winced as she laid down across several seats. Blood oozed from her arm onto the seat. She rolled her eyes, glad her mother was not there to chide her for staining the furniture. Michelle let out a small laugh, but stopped, wheezing. She rolled over and spit some blood out of her mouth, feeling a small cut on her tongue.

 

"Very ladylike" Jason commented dryly, without even removing his focus from the task at hand. Michelle stuck her tongue out at Jason, who was oblivious, his eyes still fixed on the gun he was cleaning. Michelle smiled and looked at the ceiling, listening to the hum of the engine. Blackstone walked over to her and took a seat, pulling out a small canister of bacta spray. Blackstone was far from a medical professional, but he had considered the career once... a long time ago. Now he had gone to the causing of wound rather than the healing of it. None the less, one didn't grow up on the bacta run without somewhat of a knowledge of medicine.

 

Blackstone tore the cuff off of her tattered sleeve and dampened it with water, applying it to the wound. Systematically he cleaned it, the blood beginning to flow freely again. Pulling out a small bottle of alcohol, Michelle's eyes widened, hoping it was for drinking. "Yeah, you know" she started "You really don't ha--ahh!" she stopped as Blackstone swabbed some alcohol into the wound. Michelle bit her lip to fight the pain. Blackstone took a tube of bacta salve out of his pocket and applied the sickly sweet smelling contents to the gaping hole in her arm. Michelle winced, recoiling from the cold touch of the salve, then slowly relaxed her arm. Skin cells slowly started regenerating around the torn tissue and the torn muscle began to come together, one fiber at a time. Slowly but surely the torn tissue was coming back together. Blackstone applied a little more, then placed a patch of cloth on the wound and placed Michelle's hand over it, applying pressure to the depleting blood flow. The gash was a rather deep one, and complex tissues and fibers did not heal as well as skin cells- even with bacta. Epithelial cells produced at thousands per minute, while muscle fiber takes considerably longer. Jason grimaced at the smell.

 

Blackstone at that moment noticed just how large a quantity of blood Michelle had lost. Her skin was paling and she shivered slightly. Blackstone took her pulse. Not in mortal danger, but still not good. He noted also that her skin was cool. Making sure the wound was stabilizing, Blackstone began to work on her broken leg, still without uttering a word. Michelle made observation of this. "So... what's up? Why the code of silence?"

 

"Unlike you, some people don't say every glib thought that comes into their vacuous head" Jason commented acidly. Michelle rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Blackstone. "So...? C'mon, what's- ow... not so hard, will ya?... what's going on. Who made you doctor?"

 

"I dunno" Blackstone responded rather dully. "I suppose I used to be interested in the career. Dealt with a lot of bacta back at home. Learned a lot about it. This stuff is crap, though" he said, indicating the bacta in the first aid kid. "It'll get the job done eventually, I guess. " Blackstone made a makeshift brace for the leg. Too bad he didn't have a good syringe. A bacta injection would help a lot here. The topical bacta might absorb into the bloodstream, though, perhaps helping the bone heal a bit. Or they'd simply wait until they came across a good supply... or some bactade.

 

Blackstone took his work seriously. He could be very cold, especially in battle. But after the fighting was over, medicine was almost even a duty. Especially among friends, perhaps Blackstone's one empathy was for those receiving medical care. Even on occasion an enemy would receive treatment from Blackstone if he made it to a care facility... and Blackstone's unconventional tactics usually made sure that it never got that far. He was fond of head shots.

 

Blackstone stood up and turned his attention to the princess, who was sitting in a corner shaking profusely, muttering silent prayers. Being the de facto physician, Blackstone set to tending her wounds; a gaping hole in her thigh and a burn on her face. Blackstone wrapped a tourniquet softly around her leg, though the blood flow had slowed significantly at this point.

 

He gave her a blanket and treated her for shock. She had likely lost about 15% of her blood, putting her in early stages of shock from blood loss. Compounded with her psychological composure, she seemed to have almost lost cognition of her surroundings. Blackstone applied bacta to the wound on her thigh after cleaning it, then moved onto the face. She looked into his eyes almost blankly as he touched her, like a frightened animal. Blackstone quickly broke the eye contact, minimizing the chance that he might grow some sort of pity. The only reason he treated her wounds was because she was required alive and unspoiled... Though she did have a pretty face.

 

She flinched as Blackstone swabbed a cleaning solution into the burn on her cheek, removing the charred flesh. The bleeding started anew and Blackstone quickly applied Bacta to heal the skin. The fact that she was crying wasn't too bad, either, as the tears actually were rather healthy for the wound. Blackstone wiped her face from dirt and tears, and she felt it in wonder, as if the concept of a wound was foreign to her; the healing of it even more so. Blackstone stoically finished his work as the LAV came back to the shuttle. It gave a sudden jolt as it stopped, sending supplies scattering and Michelle falling out of her seat. She let out a yell as she hit the floor. Jason immediately stood up and walked over to her, bending over and extending a hand. Michelle nursed her hurt leg, which she had landed on with a harsh thud, and extended a hand so Jason could help her up.

 

Jason reached past her, and picked his blaster up off the floor.

 

Blackstone helped Michelle up and ferried the wounded girls into the shuttle. Grabbing some extra supplies, he left the LAV and boarded the shuttle.

 

Jason put his blaster back on the rack, alongside the others. It's condition was exactly the same as the new ones. He smiled at his own handiwork and took his seat. He went over to one of the supply cabinets and found a spare uniform which he tossed to the princess. "There's a back room over there if you want to change" he said, indicating her burnt pant leg. Michelle reached out to grab one as well, but Jason stopped her. "Aww.... But I look hideous. I'm all dirty!" She whined, returning to her seat. Jason, in his usual fashion, sighed. "I doubt a new set of clothes would help there" he muttered under his breath.

 

Blackstone rolled his eyes as he took his seat. There they were. One agent less, one captive more. Lost some supplies, found some others. They had returned scruffy, beaten and even wounded. They had returned after their first mission, closer to each other, and closer to becoming agents for the Black Sun.

[Tavelon]

Blackstone sat, exhausted, holding his head in his hands. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths, wiping blood and sweat from his forehead. After catching his breath, he took a look at his new surroundings of the LAV. The agents were all recuperating, collapsed in he seats of the LAV.

 

Jason heaved a large sigh. He let himself go for a brief moment, collapsing into a chair. He quickly collected himself in order to maintain professionalism. He set to work, cleaning his gun and checking his ammunition. Anyone observing him could tell that he had be doing it for a long time; he systematically ran a cloth down the length of his blaster, wiping the blood and grime from every crevice. Upon reaching the stock, one of his hands reached to his belt, almost subconsciously. He checked his ammunition and grenades, his fingertips sliding over the pouches, he didn't even have to look. He looked at the charge on his blaster, counting the shots he had fired. Everything was in order. Now was the time to stay vigilant and finish the job.

 

Michelle winced as she laid down across several seats. Blood oozed from her arm onto the seat. She rolled her eyes, glad her mother was not there to chide her for staining the furniture. Michelle let out a small laugh, but stopped, wheezing. She rolled over and spit some blood out of her mouth, feeling a small cut on her tongue.

 

"Very ladylike" Jason commented dryly, without even removing his focus from the task at hand. Michelle stuck her tongue out at Jason, who was oblivious, his eyes still fixed on the gun he was cleaning. Michelle smiled and looked at the ceiling, listening to the hum of the engine. Blackstone walked over to her and took a seat, pulling out a small canister of bacta spray. Blackstone was far from a medical professional, but he had considered the career once... a long time ago. Now he had gone to the causing of wound rather than the healing of it. None the less, one didn't grow up on the bacta run without somewhat of a knowledge of medicine.

 

Blackstone tore the cuff off of her tattered sleeve and dampened it with water, applying it to the wound. Systematically he cleaned it, the blood beginning to flow freely again. Pulling out a small bottle of alcohol, Michelle's eyes widened, hoping it was for drinking. "Yeah, you know" she started "You really don't ha--ahh!" she stopped as Blackstone swabbed some alcohol into the wound. Michelle bit her lip to fight the pain. Blackstone took a tube of bacta salve out of his pocket and applied the sickly sweet smelling contents to the gaping hole in her arm. Michelle winced, recoiling from the cold touch of the salve, then slowly relaxed her arm. Skin cells slowly started regenerating around the torn tissue and the torn muscle began to come together, one fiber at a time. Slowly but surely the torn tissue was coming back together. Blackstone applied a little more, then placed a patch of cloth on the wound and placed Michelle's hand over it, applying pressure to the depleting blood flow. The gash was a rather deep one, and complex tissues and fibers did not heal as well as skin cells- even with bacta. Epithelial cells produced at thousands per minute, while muscle fiber takes considerably longer. Jason grimaced at the smell.

 

Blackstone at that moment noticed just how large a quantity of blood Michelle had lost. Her skin was paling and she shivered slightly. Blackstone took her pulse. Not in mortal danger, but still not good. He noted also that her skin was cool. Making sure the wound was stabilizing, Blackstone began to work on her broken leg, still without uttering a word. Michelle made observation of this. "So... what's up? Why the code of silence?"

 

"Unlike you, some people don't say every glib thought that comes into their vacuous head" Jason commented acidly. Michelle rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Blackstone. "So...? C'mon, what's- ow... not so hard, will ya?... what's going on. Who made you doctor?"

 

"I dunno" Blackstone responded rather dully. "I suppose I used to be interested in the career. Dealt with a lot of bacta back at home. Learned a lot about it. This stuff is crap, though" he said, indicating the bacta in the first aid kid. "It'll get the job done eventually, I guess. " Blackstone made a makeshift brace for the leg. Too bad he didn't have a good syringe. A bacta injection would help a lot here. The topical bacta might absorb into the bloodstream, though, perhaps helping the bone heal a bit. Or they'd simply wait until they came across a good supply... or some bactade.

 

Blackstone took his work seriously. He could be very cold, especially in battle. But after the fighting was over, medicine was almost even a duty. Especially among friends, perhaps Blackstone's one empathy was for those receiving medical care. Even on occasion an enemy would receive treatment from Blackstone if he made it to a care facility... and Blackstone's unconventional tactics usually made sure that it never got that far. He was fond of head shots.

 

Blackstone stood up and turned his attention to the princess, who was sitting in a corner shaking profusely, muttering silent prayers. Being the de facto physician, Blackstone set to tending her wounds; a gaping hole in her thigh and a burn on her face. Blackstone wrapped a tourniquet softly around her leg, though the blood flow had slowed significantly at this point.

 

He gave her a blanket and treated her for shock. She had likely lost about 15% of her blood, putting her in early stages of shock from blood loss. Compounded with her psychological composure, she seemed to have almost lost cognition of her surroundings. Blackstone applied bacta to the wound on her thigh after cleaning it, then moved onto the face. She looked into his eyes almost blankly as he touched her, like a frightened animal. Blackstone quickly broke the eye contact, minimizing the chance that he might grow some sort of pity. The only reason he treated her wounds was because she was required alive and unspoiled... Though she did have a pretty face.

 

She flinched as Blackstone swabbed a cleaning solution into the burn on her cheek, removing the charred flesh. The bleeding started anew and Blackstone quickly applied Bacta to heal the skin. The fact that she was crying wasn't too bad, either, as the tears actually were rather healthy for the wound. Blackstone wiped her face from dirt and tears, and she felt it in wonder, as if the concept of a wound was foreign to her; the healing of it even more so. Blackstone stoically finished his work as the LAV came back to the shuttle. It gave a sudden jolt as it stopped, sending supplies scattering and Michelle falling out of her seat. She let out a yell as she hit the floor. Jason immediately stood up and walked over to her, bending over and extending a hand. Michelle nursed her hurt leg, which she had landed on with a harsh thud, and extended a hand so Jason could help her up.

 

Jason reached past her, and picked his blaster up off the floor.

 

Blackstone helped Michelle up and ferried the wounded girls into the shuttle. Grabbing some extra supplies, he left the LAV and boarded the shuttle.

 

Jason put his blaster back on the rack, alongside the others. It's condition was exactly the same as the new ones. He smiled at his own handiwork and took his seat. He went over to one of the supply cabinets and found a spare uniform which he tossed to the princess. "There's a back room over there if you want to change" he said, indicating her burnt pant leg. Michelle reached out to grab one as well, but Jason stopped her. "Aww.... But I look hideous. I'm all dirty!" She whined, returning to her seat. Jason, in his usual fashion, sighed. "I doubt a new set of clothes would help there" he muttered under his breath.

 

Blackstone rolled his eyes as he took his seat. There they were. One agent less, one captive more. Lost some supplies, found some others. They had returned scruffy, beaten and even wounded. They had returned after their first mission, closer to each other, and closer to becoming agents for the Black Sun.