korriban exclusion zone

“Give me a moment with my officer and then I'll be ready to leave,” Ajis said.

Major Anri nodded briskly. “Right.” She turned to the holoterminal, pulling up a map of the territory.

Ajis left her to it and stepped to the opposite corner of the room, Malavai following in her wake.

“Shall I accompany you, my lord, or would you prefer I stay here?”

He wouldn't have asked that if he hadn't already had a good idea what she would say. Ajis lowered her voice. “Stay here. Someone needs to keep an eye on our shuttle. I don't trust Malora.”

Malavai's voice dropped down to a near-whisper. “I gather you and she have a previous acquaintance?”

“You could say that. I met her on Korriban when we were both apprentices.” Ajis cast a glance out the door, towards the building Malora had disappeared into. She could sense a seething power inside. “She's slippery, and ambitious. Watch out for her, and see what you can find out about what she's been doing here.”

Malavai inclined his head. “Of course, my lord. I won’t let you down.”

“Don't take any risks,” Ajis warned. “Just look around a bit. Carefully.”

He smiled faintly at her. “Of the two of us, I should have said I was the more likely to exercise due caution. Perhaps I should be saying the same to you.”

“Perhaps. But you have your moments, Quinn. Besides, I'm going on a routine search mission, and you're stuck here with a temperamental Sith Lord. I know which one I'd say requires more caution.”

“True. I shall do as you command, my lord.”

“Good. If you run into trouble, call me at once. I'll come running,” she promised.

“Likewise.” Malavai's voice lowered even more, to a whisper that even her keen hearing strained to pick up. “Be safe, my love.”

“You too darling,” she murmured back. She glanced at Anri, who was definitely watching them out of the corner of her eye, then decided it didn't matter. Leaning up, she wrapped her arms around Malavai's neck and kissed him thoroughly goodbye. Even now, when the wound of their long separation had finally begun to close, partings were difficult. She clung to Malavai even as she pulled away, stealing one last kiss before he leaned his forehead against hers.

“I love you,” she whispered.

“And I you.”

“I'll see you soon.”

“Yes. Yes,” he repeated, and for his sake Ajis pretended not to notice his voice shaking.

“I won't leave you on your own too long with Malora – she’ll drive you mad.”

So Malavai was smiling when she stepped back, despite his shakiness, and Ajis was satisfied he would be all right on his own. She gave his hand a squeeze before releasing him completely, and turned to Major Anri. She was quite obviously watching them now, and just as obviously amused – but it wasn't a cruel amusement. In fact it reminded Ajis a little of Vette, or Theron, and if calling Malora an idiot hadn't already sealed the deal it would have made her certain she’d get along quite well with the major.

“Come along Major,” she said briskly. “Time to get to work.” She glanced back at Malavai. “Colonel.”

I recently learned Tarkin and Dooku were canonically friends and it brought me joy fjfjdk because if you didn’t know, I love Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee a lot ;w; especially their duo (no one ask me to talk about hammer movies, I've seen 37 of them and am therefore not normal about them-)

Also the fact Tarkin is *so much* younger than Dooku (something like 40 years ?) is very funny to me- then I realized I could do a young Tarkin designed based on 40 yo Peter Cushing (Frankenstein 1 Cush... I might be a lesbian but-) and hmmmmm I'll definitely come back to her. For scientific reasons ofc