Shadowed Stars

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"And that would be why I wasn't going to tell you." he shot back, voice dripping with sarcasm and exasperation. It seemed he was almost trying to make up for the moment of weakness before, lashing out at her for making him hurt again even if she hadn't purposely done so. No, the one he was really angry with was Rasheel, but she wasn't here. And how wise of her not to be, the cowardly slut.

His jade eyes looked back at Tessa then, and there was a dangerous edge to his expression, his voice as he drew close to the glass, his tone lowering. "And just what makes you think you could stop me from killing someone aboard that ship? What makes you think you could stop me from killing everyone if I wanted to?" Keene was entirely serious and his eyes narrowed at the female. "What you fail to realize, Scout Avellar, is that I am not on anyone's side. No one controls me, no one holds my loyalty. Even the people I have chosen to work for have no hold over me. I choose who I associate with and I choose what cause I help. Lucky for your people and the ones you're fighting, I've chosen to help end your stupid war so that when The Horde comes, you're not slaughtered because you were too blinded by your petty hate of each other to work together. If I have to kill one man to accomplish that entire goal, I will."

The hybrid stepped back, completely closed off again, no longer willing to bend for the white-haired female before him. He'd given her too much as it was.
 
Even though their relationship up until that point had revolved around Keene's capture, the man had never seemed hostile towards Tessa until then. Now though, as the hybrid drew closer, Tessa instinctively bristled and she fought the urge to step back, even with the protective glass in between them. At his words, Tessa's eyes darkened with anger and a cold steam floated around her right arm as she unwittingly tapped into her power.

"Good f***ing luck. The Fate is a top-of-the-line warship filled with soldiers. We'll see if your plan works as well as you hope. Arrogant d***."

Tessa didn't bother to wait for a reply before she angrily turned and left, sick of the cocky hybrid. Yet, despite everything he had told her, she would not report him. She wasn't sure if Keene's predictions were actually right or not and even though she would never admit it, a small part of Tessa worried that ratting Keene out now could endanger everyone with the incoming Horde. That is, assuming there was a Horde to begin with. As it was, Tessa had confidence in the Fate and its soldiers and while she wouldn't turn Keene in, she had no plans to help him either. If the man was so confident in his abilities, then let him try this ridiculous plan of his.

Right now though, Tessa needed to inform Dorene and Raxiel of the upcoming transfer, and she wouldn't be visiting Keene again until it was time to board the new ship.
 
Great job, idiot. You just ran off the potential friend you might have had in this hell.

Part of Keene's mind quipped at him, sarcastic, wiser than he was being right now, but the hybrid didn't want to hear it. She wouldn't have helped anyway and she's not going to be around long. This needs to be done and I didn't say anything that wasn't true.

You could have gone about it in a better way. Perhaps not so...arrogantly d***like?

I AM a d***. Better she realize it now.

The wiser part of his mind merely sighed and the inner argument was over, leaving Keene in silence, letting his foresight drag him away, show him the way to go about this.

----

He was moved at 3:25, just as he'd predicted and Keene didn't make a fuss....until Havos met them on the connection bridge that led from this ship to the Fate - how ironically named. The hybrid didn't give any sign that he planned to do anything but stand silent as the man approached him, smug in every way. He came within a foot of Keene, taunting. "Perhaps we'll meet again, prisoner. I would much like to pick up where we left off."

Keene's lips twitched into a cold smile before he struck. His hands had been cuffed in front of him - first mistake - and the guards had trusted their reflexes if he chose to move - second mistake - and the hybrid now demonstrated that he didn't need to be free to be deadly. His bound hands struck Havos hard across the temple, drawing instant blood and he grabbed the man before he fell, shoving him away so that he hit the side of the bridge, earning a groan as he sank to the ground.

Keene had been subdued by that point and he grit his teeth as his arms were wrenched behind his back and his body jerked with pain at the electric current that had been administered to make him drop. He said nothing, absolutely nothing as he was pulled back to his feet and this time held on to tightly as he was marched forward.

He kept his eyes down, but the slightest, barest hint of a smile graced his lips and the satisfaction in his eyes was not merely for the fact that he'd gotten some revenge.
 
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Tessa had gathered Dorene and Raxiel, though not without some complication. Dorene had been understandably upset at Tessa's decision to embark on this adventure as opposed to choosing the safety of Tescon64. It was only after Tessa pointed out that there was a great deal more to learn and more opportunities for research on the Fate did Dorene finally relent and begrudgingly accept. Raxiel though, followed the two easily, seemingly apathetic to both options.

Now, the three watched as Keene was readied for the transfer and when the hybrid struck Havos with a startling speed, Dorene squeaked and looked down at the Second in concern. Tessa gave Keene a pointed look but she couldn't bring herself to be angry at the man for his actions. Hell, she'd hit Havos too if she could.

As they crossed the connection bridge, the difference between the two ships made the Explorer seem laughable. The Explorer was a small, compact thing and the ship before them now was a behemoth in comparison. The Fate was vastly better armed as well and even its soldiers were better equipped and seemed to follow orders faster and more efficiently. When the guards led Keene to his new cell, it became even more apparent just how serious this was; the cell was larger than the ones in the Explorer but much more better fortified. There was still a glass barrier but it was significantly thicker and a metallic border ran along the edges of the cell, preventing the use of powers inside, just in case a prisoner escaped their collar.

Keene was put inside the cell with his restraints still on and a guard approached the glass, his voice muffled through the helmet.

"The Galatic General wants to speak with you soon. If you do not answer his questions, extreme measures will be taken to ensure your compliance."

Most of the guards left then, but two remained to stay at either side of the cell, standing watch to make sure Keene behaved. Dorene and Raxiel followed the other guards but Tessa lingered behind for a moment. She said nothing, unable to speak of Keene's plans since there were guards present anyway, and she merely raised a brow at the dark-haired man, a silent indication of her skepticism that he could ever succeed.
 
Keene looked back at Tessa with a blank expression, but inwardly he was laughing at her challenge. Did she truly think that this cell bothered him? He wouldn't be here long. He watched as she left and slowly moved his fingers, feeling the pin from Havos' uniform against his palm. If the white-haired female really thought he had so little control and such a petty need for revenge then she had a lot to learn about him. He really didn't expect her to get the time to figure it out, though.

The hybrid sat down calmly and out of view of both guards, he started working on the mechanisms to his cuffs with a precision that was eerie. It wasn't the first time he'd been in manacles and it probably wouldn't be the last. His eyes hazed gray, providing information about how to best pick the lock, how someone, a random person in the future would do it and he followed their example until he felt the cuffs give a faint crack. There.

They still looked intact, still held together but a sharp tug would have one side opening like a child's toy.

The hybrid dropped the pin then and stood just in time for more guards to arrive. It had been a good hour and a half since he'd been brought here and now he was being escorted out again. The guard from before addressed him again, voice muffled, nearly robotic. "The Galactic General will see you now. You will answer his questions. You will not attempt to escape. You will obey your captors."

Keene raised a brow. "Would you like me to kiss your a**, too?"

The strike made his head whiplash a bit and blood ran from his mouth, but Keene didn't retaliate. He'd meant to be hit. If he was bleeding, it would present a false security to the man he was going to kill. It would tell the Galactic General that he was defiant, yes - but most prisoners were - but that he could be controlled, could possibly be broken. It was wrong, but would work to his advantage.

"You will not speak unless told to do so."

Oh, now you tell me.

The hybrid merely smiled a little, his teeth bloodied and he went with the guards without protest as they took him through the ship. At one point his jade eyes met Tessa's violet, but there was no message in his own. There was only a blank slate, as if he wasn't even there anymore.
 
Tessa's mind was far too preoccupied for her to notice Keene fiddling with his manacles. Her mind was racing, trying to process everything that was happening. She wasn't sure what to think of Keene and his foresight; the man had predicted everything accurately up until that point, but his latest predictions seemed so wild, so completely crazy, that Tessa was having a hard time putting any faith into them. Then again, if Keene was correct, then what did that mean for them? For the war? Hell, for humanity?

Tessa ruminated on the thoughts and even when enough time had passed that the guards were returning to get Keene, she was still left frustratingly undecided. Tessa forced herself to push the thoughts away as Keene was released from the cell and she watched the man warily. Even with her annoyance for Keene though, Tessa had to will herself not to flinch when the hybrid was struck.

Get over it. He deserved it! That smarta**. He's never going to learn...

No, Tessa truly had no idea of the complexity behind every one of Keene's actions. As far as she was concerned, Keene was merely a narcissist who had gotten way too far over his head.

It took a little while for the guards to escort Keene across the ship; the Fate was huge and they had to pass through several guarded check points along the way. Finally, they entered a room that held several dozen guards and in the center of the room stood the Galactic General.

Tessa was ushered to the side of the room, along with Dorene and Raxiel, out of the way for the questioning. Tessa didn't say a word and simply watched the black-haired man, curious to see what would happen.
 
Keene was held between four guards - one at either side and two in the back - as he was pushed to the center of the navigation room. His jade eyes scanned the upper walkways, noting how many guards there were and their positions. A ring of gray was permanent in his eyes now, but to anyone who didn't know him, nothing would be thought of it - after all, some aliens had florescent orange eyes. Who was anyone to judge?

Having seen what he needed to, the hybrid brought his attention back to the goal at hand and he watched the older man in front of him carefully, patiently. The Galactic General was a hard-looking man, dark of hair and graying. He spoke in a gravely way and there was no compassion, no kindness or a hint of empathy in his tone. He truly was cold and that was how Keene knew the man would never end the war. He would never see reason or be swayed.

No, this was the only way.

"What is your name?"

"Keenenoro." The hybrid didn't hesitate to answer. His goal was not to be stubborn or secretive. His mission was to kill the man before him and that required the human get just a little closer. The Galactic General's eyes narrowed. "What position do you hold in your army?"

"Uh..Freelance Massacre Administrator?" Keene answered with a bit of sarcasm and a smile. He instantly felt a jolt of pain in his ribs as he was given a small shock of electricity and his teeth gritted even as the older man in front of him held up a few fingers. "Hold." Blue eyes narrowed and the man took a step closer as Keene hung his head, absolutely faking that he was far more injured than he'd been letting on. The Fate would have records from the Explorer by now of his visit to the medical bay. Let them think that they'd further injured his side in some way. It would make them less wary.

"Your people have been trying to negotiate your release already, Oncoming Shadow. Does that comfort you? Do you think yourself beyond our touch? I think not. I have no intention of returning you until we've gotten every last drop of information you hold."

Keene didn't answer, looking away and he feigned resistance when the Galactic General's hand came out swiftly to grab his chin, pulling his head up and straight. "I asked you a question, scum!"

Jade eyes pierced into blue, something changing so swiftly it was hard to decipher and Keene's voice was cold and soft. "Your son will be a better leader than you ever were. I hope that comforts you."

His green eyes surged gray then and at least two dozen guards suddenly shouted in panic, yelling something about fire as they desperately backed away, batting at the air with frantic looks on their faces. The four guards around Keene were affected likewise and they released him in fear of the flames that had suddenly leaped up in front of them, given form by nothing but their minds, suddenly overwhelmed with a foreign vision that came from the hybrid himself. In that moment of freedom, Keene struck without mercy or hesitation. His cuffs broke and he used those same cuffs as a weapon, holding one jangling end and slicing it deeply, messily across the older man's throat.

The Galactic General gasped, shocked and gurgled blood as he collapsed, holding his neck with weak fingers, trying to stem the flow. He was beyond saving and Keene was already moving. It took supreme, excruciating effort to use his foresight like this - planting it in so many people's heads - with the collar around his neck and his nose started to bleed profusely before he gave a gasp and let go. The fires in the soldier's minds stopped abruptly and as they looked around in confusion, those not effected had already started shooting, no longer distracted by their panicking companions.

Keene met Tessa's eyes then as he dodged a bullet like it was a soccer ball kicked by a tantruming child and they said clearly, very clearly; I told you so.
 
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What the f-

Tessa didn't have time to gawk any longer though, as Raxiel was already pushing her and Dorene away from the guards and towards the room exit. It was good that the android seemed to have some semblance of his wits since Dorene was hopelessly overwhelmed and panicked and Tessa was dumbfounded to the point of dysfunction.

How did he...?

It was only after the three had nearly reached the door did Tessa finally snap out of her trance. Her eyes fell on Keene again and at the dozens of guards now closing in on him. She didn't know about Keene's foresight - how the male could predict every movement and bullet that came his way. No, all she saw was the hybrid in a dire situation that would surely end in death. Later, she would recall that Keene had a much greater handle on the situation than she anticipated, but such thoughts didn't enter her mind now.

Tessa didn't know what compelled her to do what she did next. Her body moved instinctively and when a guard beside her raised his gun, leveling it to Keene, Tessa didn't hesitate for a second as she grabbed onto the man's arm. The frosty tendril on the underside of Tessa's own arm glowed brightly and within seconds, a thick layer of ice encrusted the guard's arm. The guard cried out and dropped his gun, cradling his ice-coated appendage.

The realization of what she had just done suddenly hit Tessa and she stared at the man, her violet eyes wide. Well, it was all or nothing now. Pushing away any hesitation that threatened to distract her, Tessa was already moving again to disable another guard.

Dorene was in shock at the whole display and even Raxiel looked surprised as he watched Tessa. The android glanced down at the injured guard, then back up at the white-haired female. Without thinking any longer about it, Raxiel's arm shifted into a large gun and he raised it, gunning down the guards around him with an efficiency that was frightening.
 
Keene was genuinely startled by Tessa's sudden involvement and it was that lack of attention, that momentary distraction that got him hit. The bullet went through his shoulder and he gave a half strangled cry, surprised into voicing anything at all. The hybrid's mind snapped back into focus again and he dodged the next killing shot easily, his eyes flooding gray once more. He made his way through the room, through the guards, like everything had been rehearsed, like they were all actors in a movie and he had nothing to worry about. Of course, the blood running down his bare skin gave testament to the fact that this wasn't a game.

Still, when the hybrid took out guards, he did it in ways that wouldn't kill. He actually took great pains to not bring anymore death and Raxiel's shooting actually angered him. He made his way to the android and without fear or hesitation, pushed the male's next killing shot eschew.

"Stop! They don't need to die! S***, use a tranq, Robo!" He glared fiercely at the other male and didn't wait for a reply or for compliance as he looked back at the chaos of the room.

They were outnumbered, outgunned and dammit, now he had three other people to keep an eye on! Keene cursed under his breath and he spread his hands, his eyes darkening to nearly black behind the gray haze. The remaining soldiers started gasping as if they couldn't breathe, collapsing as they held their heads. The deep void of space, the weightlessness of floating, the beyond-freezing cold was what they were feeling, seeing and with it came the belief that they couldn't breathe. A few of them passed out rather swiftly and the rest...

Well, Keene wasn't going to stay and find out how long it would take them to get over their 'near-death'. His eyes, looking like dark pools beneath his black hair, met Tessa's violet and then Raxiel's dark ones. "Run." It was a simple word and the hybrid was already doing it, passing through the unguarded door with confidence. His black hair was matted with sweat, though, and he continued to bleed from his shoulder steadily, leaving a trail. His nose was gushing blood again and this time it was seeping from the corners of his eyes, too.

It refused to stop even when his trick did and Keene wiped across his vision, growling irritably. Blood in the eyes equaled really inconvenient right now! So did migraine from hell, but that he was less worried about. In fact...the only thing he was worried about... Keene glanced back at the three that followed him as they dashed down the hallway, toward their first checkpoint and further inevitable violence.

By the galaxies, WHY were the fools following him? Better yet, why had Snowy helped him? It wasn't like she owed him anything. She wasn't getting anything out of this. She didn't even like him. So why had she protected him? A bullet whizzed by Keene's head and those thoughts scattered immediately as he brought his focus back to his task; mainly staying alive and keeping his brand new companions - yay - alive, too.

Oh well, he'd figure it out later. Now to get off this ship quickly enough to see this elusive 'later'...
 
Raxiel looked up calmly at Keene's request - well, demand rather - before looking down at the gun attached to his arm. Only seconds ago, Keene had been the enemy. Now though, Tessa had made it very clear that she was on the hybrid's side and that meant Raxiel was as well. Satisfied with his conclusion, Raxiel did as Keene said and with a few clicks and snaps of the gun, the rounds were replaced with tranquilizers.

Tessa had managed to disable a good number of guards before Keene's eyes met hers and when he told her to run, she grabbed Dorene's arm and ran after Keene, knowing Raxiel would follow. Dorene was finally starting to get a grip over herself and she managed to collect herself enough to speak, even if her tone was panicked.

"Where are we going?! We're going to get killed if we stay here!"

There was no doubt about that; as it was, alarms were already blaring throughout the ship and the sound of shouts and footsteps could be heard down the hall. Tessa knew Dorene was right and as they ran, her mind raced for options. "Escape pods! A ship like this would have escape pods, right?"

"Yes, but WHERE?" Dorene said with some exasperation.

Tessa realized she didn't have an answer and her mind again grasped for solutions. Her violet eyes scanned their surroundings quickly and when they fell on a computer in the hallway, she suddenly stopped. "Raxiel, hack into that thing and find where the escape pods are!"

Raxiel stopped and looked at Tessa for a moment, then at the computer. He was a combat android, not a hacking one, but then again, Tessa had never bothered to learn such things. The computer WOULD contain information about the escape pods though, and Raxiel went over to it and began to search the computer for a basic map that would surely be unprotected.

Tessa had no clue that Raxiel was doing a standard search and not some high tech military hacking, but she DID know that the android would need time. At that moment though, at least six guards, presumably from the check point ahead, ran up to them and leveled their guns in preparation to fire.
 
What the hell- Oh, you had to be kidding!

Keene skid to a halt with the other three, but when he opened his mouth to speak, the arrival of the guards stopped him and he cursed rather loudly and colorfully. The hybrid moved with astounding speed, purposely propelling his himself AWAY from his three companions. His lithe body moved with a flawless execution as he avoided bullets by a hair's breath until he was within striking distance of the guards. Even disabled as he was - his tail would have made him three times more deadly - taking out the six men wasn't too difficult. When you could anticipate every move made against you, it helped.

He didn't kill any of them, but when Keene looked back at Tessa, Raxiel and Dorene, it was clear he was growing angry. "We don't have time for you to search a damn database! If you're coming with me, then MOVE! I already know where the effing ships are! Do you honestly think I don't know how to get OFF this heap after killing the most important person ON it!?"

Keene didn't wait for a reply, already running again. If they followed, great. If not, he was past the point of caring. His gray eyes flickered, flooding him with information and the black-haired male was able to skirt whole groups of soldiers just by taking hallways he might not have if he'd not known about it beforehand. He was steadily making his way through the north side of the ship to the southern hanger. They'd find the ship they needed there...and a lot of resistance, but that really couldn't be helped.
 
Even though it was good that Keene knew how to escape from the ship, Tessa still growled in response to the man. More than once, Tessa had been accused of lacking tact but now she had finally found someone that made her look like a master diplomat in comparison. Had they not been running for their lives, Tessa would no doubt have had plenty of words for Keene but she knew that would have to wait. Muttering angrily under her breath, Tessa took off after the hybrid and her two companions followed.

As they approached the southern hanger, more and more guards tried to intercept them. Tessa and Raxiel would do what they could to dispatch the guards but oftentimes it wasn't even necessary, as Keene seemed to take care of them quite fine on his own. Still, Tessa wasn't one to sit back and watch others do work for her and even when Raxiel slowed his participation in the fights, Tessa continued to actively disable the guards.

When the four finally reached the hanger, several ships greeted them, appearing massive when stood next to from the ground. Tessa was relieved to see the ships, but guards were already pouring in and they were running out of time.

"Okay, Hotshot. I hope you know how to fly one of these things because nobody on my team does."
 
Keene rolled his eyes and didn't answer as they sprinted up the ramp to one of the ships and he looked at the keypad, waiting for a security code. The hybrid punched it in without hesitation and then inserted one of the tags he'd pulled off a guard working in the hanger at some point during a fight. The door opened with a hiss and Keene didn't wait for the all clear from the computer before entering, running through the short corridor that led to the wide cockpit. His body practically flew into a seat and it was like he ran on autopilot, flipping switches and his fingers flying over the touchscreen.

The ship's door slid shut, locking and the engines whirred to life with a steady roar that settled to a purr. The hybrid literally chuckled as he activated the shields and the bullets and lasers that had been hitting the hull now had no effect. The ship rose off the ground smooth as a dream and Keene showed no concern that the hanger doors were starting to shut, trying to prevent escape. A few touches to the screen before him had reserve energy channeling to the thrusters and he disabled many functions of the ship that wouldn't be needed with a crew of four, converting even more energy.

When that was done, he took a hold of the controls and pushed them forward quickly. The ship zoomed through the hanger, a sleek, skinny model...that went right through the gape still left in the hanger doors. They were among the stars then, free sure, but not completely safe and Keene again started working on the panel. After a minute - in which they were bought time by those hanger doors having to open to let more ships out - he finally called out to his three companions.

"Going into a jump! Might want to buckle up!"

He gave just enough time for them to find seats, barely enough time to find a seat belts....just enough time for him to hesitate before he steeled himself and slammed his hand down on the button. The world seemed to thin, pull at them, lights flashed through their vision and their ears would be roaring, and the ship's hyper-drive activated, sending them hurtling through space in the blink of an eye. When they finally stopped, traveling at normal speed again, Keene gasped and half-stumbled, half-fell from his chair. His stomach roiled and he vomited bile onto the pristine white floor. The ship's cleaning mechanism instantly vaporized it, the very floor cleaning up the mess - it was doing the same to the blood that was dripping from his bullet wound - but Keene didn't care.

He hated jumps with a passion. They sent his foresight into a tailspin every time he did it and it took several minutes for his mind to settle again, and that effected his body's reactions.

Keene attempted to stand and then thought better of it, sitting again as his vision swam. Nope, he was just going to stay riiiiiight here. The floor was nice, really. Safe.
 
Tessa felt slightly woozy after the jump but without the foresight that Keene had, she recovered from it quickly. She unbuckled herself from her seat and then stood, walking over to Keene and standing in front of the black-haired man as he sat on the floor.

"Well. You killed the Galactic General just like you said you would. Good f***ing job. Was it worth it?"

Dorene frowned and unbuckled her seat belt as well as she stood. Normally, the redhead was soft-spoken, timid almost, but too much had happened for her to keep her composure now.

"Tessa, what the hell was that!? Please, tell me why you decided to help the man who assassinated our general! Were you working for the other side all along??"

Tessa tore her gaze away from the hybrid to her companion who looked not only furious, but a little hurt as well. It wasn't entirely a surprise, considering how the redhead had considered Tessa a friend as well as a teammate.

"No, I didn't change sides! I just...um...I..." Tessa wasn't quite sure how to answer. Why DID she help Keene? Did she really believe in his visions, or did she help him for other reasons? The decision to help him had been instantaneous and Tessa didn't know how or why her instincts had compelled her to help the man. For once, Tessa was at a loss for words.

Dorene raised a brow, watching Tessa as she stammered over her words before she turned her attention to Keene. If Tessa wouldn't answer, perhaps he might. "Well? Was this your plan all along? To team up with Tessa and assassinate the general?"
 
"First off, stop yelling before I decide you need to be knocked out, too." Keene was rubbing his temples, his head pounding like a blacksmith's hammer and he was working VERY hard not to throw up again. He didn't even look at Dorene as he spoke again, his voice quiet. If she wanted to hear him, she'd have to shut up to do so and he might or might not have done that on purpose. "Second; no, it wasn't. The killing part, yeah. I mean, I knew I was supposed to kill someone, got that information last night, but dear Snowy helping? No, that wasn't planned. In fact, she didn't want anything to do with it. So take your best guess at that puzzle. I'm going to pass right now."

He stood slowly then and breathed past the nausea that gripped him, blinking until he could see semi-clearly. "Right now I think I'll find a medical bay before I bleed out if it's all the same to you, Nerd." With that he walked toward the exit and tossed parting words over his shoulder to Tessa.

"And yeah, it was worth it. Fourteen deaths for the price of peace, oh and thirteen of those deaths didn't even have to happen so you can thank Robo for that; yeah, I would say that's more than worth it in my book."

He disappeared from sight then and made his way unsteadily to the medical bay, following signs this time as his mind was still a mess - more than usual - and groaned under his breath as he started riffling through drawers, trying to find what was needed for his shoulder. He nearly lost his balance again and cursed, looking down at his restrained tail. Damn, he needed to get those off and then maybe he'd stop stumbling about like a drunk.

Shaking his fogged head, Keene realized he'd found what he needed and he slowly sank to the floor, letting his back slide along the wall. He left streaks of blood, but didn't notice as his fingers fumbled with the packaging, shaking beyond his control by this point. He'd lost a lot of blood and his body was telling him it was not happy about it.
 
Keene's lacking explanation only worsened Dorene's confusion and she looked at Tessa in utter bewilderment. Tessa just sighed, shaking her head. "I'll explain everything to you later." She meant it, too; Tessa's spur of the moment decision to help Keene had not only marked herself as a traitor, but Dorene and Raxiel as well. It wasn't fair for them and the very least Tessa could do was let them know WHY this had all happened in the first place. It would mean spilling the beans on Keene's secrets but considering everything that had happened, Tessa figured it was only right for Dorene and Raxiel to know.

Right now though, Tessa knew Keene was bleeding out and she walked to the medical bay after him. She paused at the doorway, noting how the black-haired man was on the floor again and struggling with the package, before walking over to him. She knelt down in front of Keene and without asking, took the package and opened it before handing the contents back to him.

"Is your wound going to be alright?"

The words were those of concern but there wasn't much sympathy in Tessa's tone; she had plenty to say to Keene and she wouldn't get a proper chance to yell at the man if he died now.
 
Keene didn't protest her help and that in and of itself was a big deal - though there wasn't anyone who could tell Tessa that because most people didn't know anything about him. He took the quarter-sized bullet magnet from her and held it over the hole, gritting his teeth as the bullet worked its way out of his body, finally latching on to the magnet before Keene threw it away. He took the clotting powder then and dumped it on to the wound. The agents in the powder worked swiftly and though it hurt, Keene relaxed a little, finally meeting Tessa's gaze. His eyes were green again, pale in color, but stable.

"I'll be fine."

He said it factually, knowing she wasn't overly concerned and he brought his attention back to his shoulder. He carefully wiped off the extra powder and peeled the cover off a pad like the one that was still on his side and spread it over the injury, making sure it stuck to his skin. The hybrid leaned his head back then, the pain in his skull nearly unbearable, but he spoke to the white-haired female in front of him calmly.

"Say what you want to say, but I swear if you yell, I will hurt you."

He wasn't really kidding either.
 
Watching Keene extract the bullet from his wound made Tessa's skin crawl but she forced herself to remain outwardly impassive during the process - her frustration at the man made it easier to do now anyway. Afterwards, Tessa narrowed her eyes a little at Keene's threat but she did heed his warning and when she spoke, she kept her voice hushed. Sharp, but hushed.

"What exactly do you plan to do now? Your army wants you back and my army wants you dead. Both will be looking for you. Hell, not just for you, but for us as well!"

Tessa's anger levels were rising and with them, her voice was too. She managed to catch herself though, and Tessa forced herself to return to a softer volume, though it took great effort to do so and there was an underlying bite of sarcasm in her words.

"Is everything really solved now that the Galactic General is dead? Are we all saved from the Horde? Thank god we had the too-good-for-everyone smarta** to save the f***ing day!"

Tessa was close to yelling again but she didn't care anymore. It was all too much; Keene's foresight, the assassination, the eerily accurate predictions that included an unstoppable Horde, and perhaps the most grating of all was the hybrid's inability to be anything but arrogant and condescending towards everyone around him. It made Tessa want to slap the man and she found herself wondering yet again what had compelled her to help the infuriating male in front of her.
 
Keene wanted nothing more in that moment than to curl around himself and cover his ears like a child. He felt the nausea build in his system again, felt the pain in his head flare and he subtly worked to control his breathing, control the faint tremble that had set into his body. Tessa's words pierced him far more deeply than she could realize and Keene was scared. He was in pain, exhausted, felt sick and he was scared.

And he could not afford to show the last emotion. Whatever he did, he wasn't allowed to show that one. He wasn't allowed to cry. He wasn't allowed to scream. He couldn't show that kind of weakness.

She didn't understand. No one ever understood. They judged and yelled at him and hated him and blamed him. They were angry and bitter, they used him and tried to control him. They hurt him, scolded him, threatened him, demeaned him. They told him what was right and wrong, twisting it to their own means. And now, even Tessa was making that mistake, assuming and branding before she knew a damn thing, before she truly understood anything.

Did any of them ever think, for even a moment, that he might not have as much of a choice as they assumed? Did they ever wonder what it was like to have your entire mind flooded with events of the future, to have to pick through the people you could help, the events that would save the most lives, trying to balance the evil you did with the good that would come of it? Did they ever ask themselves what they'd do if they were in his place? Did they, for one second, actually, truly believe that this was easy for him?

Could no one see past the mask he displayed to the world? No. No they couldn't. He couldn't let them. If he let anyone see past the wall, past the chill that kept people out, Keene knew he wouldn't find help. He'd find more hurt, he'd find someone more than willing to exploit every inner insecurity, every weakness.

He couldn't allow that.

The hybrid opened his eyes, calm, blank, cold as they seared into Tessa's violet and his answers were clipped, to the point as he addressed every single question in the order she'd posed them. "I plan to sleep. After that, I plan to go back to the army that wants me back and tell them to accept the new terms your people will set lest I bring calamity upon their stubborn heads. Then I am leaving this pathetic excuse for a galaxy to a location I am not inclined to disclose to you at this time."

He worked his way to his feet then, looking down at the slender female, green eyes harder now, a brick wall. He'd told her not to yell and her raised voice - and her words - seemed to be his last straw as he walked past her and toward the door, still speaking. If she wanted to hear it, she could follow and he didn't even care how rude that was. He wanted to find some damn pliers and get these effing restraints and collar off and then go find a bed to crash in.

"No, everything is not solved. Nothing is ever solved with every bloody race in the universe looking to annihilate each other. No, we aren't saved from the Horde. It's very likely we're all going to die at the hands of the Horde, but at least this is one less war that will be going on when they strike. It's one more united people that can stand up to them. WHY is that such a hard thing for you to swallow? Why is that so horrible, Tessa? Why is the life of one hardhearted, a**hole who would rather die than save his people more important to you than the millions of people who actually have a chance of survival now that he's gone?"

His own voice was scathing now and Keene took his anger out on the manacles around his leg and tail, having found a pair of cutters in the ship's repair room. He snapped the metal off in rapid, gunshot-loud succession and his tail came free, lashing like an angry cat. He cut the collar on his neck blindly, drawing some blood and not caring as the thing fell away and he felt he could breathe again.
 
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Tessa was still angry, but she was also overwhelmed, confused, and a little scared. Like Keene though, she refused to show the latter and when the hybrid's cold jade eyes met hers, Tessa hardened her gaze as well. She was not so stubborn that she stopped listening to Keene though, and when the male walked to the repair room, she begrudgingly followed him.

The man did have a point - when it came down to it, wasn't it worth it to kill one person to save millions? The more Tessa thought about it, the more she began to suspect that her opposition to Keene was centered less on morals and more on personal issues. The hybrid was absolute fascinating, lethal, and enigmatic... but he was also kind of a d***. His actions themselves made sense though, and that realization made Tessa decide to back off, at least a little. As long as it was for the greater good, Tessa would stop questioning Keene's every move; that didn't mean she wouldn't call him out for being an absolute jerk though.

"...Fine. Maybe it was necessary to kill the Galactic General. Whatever happens though, we're all fugitives now and you're stuck with me and my team until this settles so keep us in the loop from now on. I'm going to tell Dorene and Raxiel about your foresight as well."

The last part was more of a statement than a question, but Tessa wouldn't have brought it up at all if she didn't care what Keene thought. Her loyalties ran strong and even if Tessa didn't particularly like Keene right now, she still made a promise to him and by bringing up his secret at all, she was giving him a chance to persuade her otherwise from telling.
 
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