| Posted by GM (Paul) on 12-01-2001 | |
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PAZURKA - Ar Tesh Tay
Seeing Adonis go down, Ouphil was almost as upset at himself as at the rogue droid, and aimed again as Penny sent their surge boat charging after the crippled malefactor. Twenty metres; ten metres... They gained on the probe in speedy increments as it twitched back and forth across the waterway, apparently ignoring their approach as it shot after its primary targets.
When they could smell the curdled tang of burning electronics, Ouphil fired, hoping to end the conflict in one fell blast. But again the Hunter-Killer showed an aptitude for self-preservation, not even touched this time as it juked away from the blast.
But it was now falling far behind Gessepe and Adonis. The lead had stretched out to over a hundred metres, affording the captain some latitude to revive his lover with a stroke on the cheek.
"Just fainted. Looks worse than it is," he said, smiling bravely for her benefit. Gessepe's eyes flicked between hers, the sensors, and the sea ahead. He fell silent as Adonis courageously tended to the torn flesh about her midriff. It was a large and messy wound, penetrating flesh but missing any organs. A small jolt of pain suppressant, bandages and a bacta swab to prevent scarring was the best the redhead could manage under the circumstances, but it was enough to bring her well back from the precipice of unconsciousness or death.
Which were still a very real threat. Although the damaged probe was now lagging well behind, the water ahead was broken up by a large expanse of shallow sandbars. Gessepe was forced to slow on the approach and glanced behind them, knowing full well that terrain meant nothing to the flying droid.
But in looking back the veteran spacer discovered why the second droid had been so complacent about its waning chase. Equidistant between the two boats a third Hunter-Killer had shot away from the near bank. Almost despairing, Gessepe searched the skies vainly for sighting of a fourth. If they were struggling to battle one, what hope had they of fending off two of the killing machines at once?
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"That's all. It will be finished tomorrow, and will no doubt be the finest literary work since William Shakespeare's Gay Boys in Bondage." - Joss Whedon, footnote to Buffy the Vampire Slayer pilot draft