Gabriel sat motionless at a table in the far corner of the abandoned cantina. It had been another tireless day on this Godforsaken planet. It seemed he had been here for a millenium, but in actuality it had only been 4 months. Still, it had been the longest he'd spent on any planet in quite some time.
He took a long draw from the ale sitting in front of him and looked towards the door, waiting for his company to join him. He leaned back in his chair and clasped his fingers together behind his head, allowing a long breath to exhale from his lungs.
He had originally come to Anoat with a group of bounty hunters who were searching for a high profile criminal. Instead of finding the bounty, they found a dense astroid field that left most of their transportation immobile. The remaining spacecraft that were able to fly were piloted by weak-minded fools who had more confidence in their appetites rather than their piloting skills. One thing he had found of interest was the daughter of an Echani mercenary, Etris. She was by far, the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
Over the last 4 months Gabriel and Etris, who was a few years his junior, had gotten to know one another. They spent most of every day together and this was starting to attract the attention of her father. He had pulled Gabriel aside only two days ago and explained that if anything happened to his daughter while stranded on this planet, he would hold Gabriel personally responsible. Gabriel, respecting her father's wishes, vowed she'd be safe with him.
He took another drink from the large glass in front of him and set it down as he saw the silver-haired beauty pass through the entrance to the cantina. She smiled as her eyes fell on him and he couldn't help but allow a small smirk to stretch across his normally sullen face.
She took a seat across from him and remained silent as she stared into his fiery eyes. He held her glance and took in the shimmering appearance of her ice-silver eyes. Somehow, for reasons he could not explain, he and this Echani had formed a bond like nothing he had ever experienced. She had never had any doubts about befriending him. Normally he had no such luck with anyone, muchless women. His large and intimidating appearance scared most in the other direction.
She sat silent a moment longer and then her face lit up once more as she took his hand and led him out of the dimlit cantina. He followed as quick as he could, though she was much more agile and graceful, as most Echani were.
They finally reached a clearing amidst a group of what looked like old Republic frigates, long-since abandoned.
"I found this place this morning." She exclaimed with the excitement of a child in her voice. "My father said they used to hold marriages here." She stole a quick glance back at Gabriel while he was looking around.
Though at first glance, he appeared like a large, uncaring warrior, which he was, she saw through it. As she grew to know him, he became much more. He tried to hide it as best he could, but she could see his feelings for her were growing.
Gabriel looked around at the markings that differentiated the ships from one another. When he turned back towards Etris, she was now leaping to the top of one of the grounded ships. He felt himself gasp as she nearly missed one of the landings.
She couldn't help but laugh at the expression on his face as she lept effortlessly from one ship to the other. She stopped just shy of a large gap that was filled in by loose pieces of scrap metal. She recoiled and took one long stride beforing leaping. As her right foot left the ground her left foot pushed off from a loose piece of metal, thus changing her initial path through the air. She saw she would fall short of her intended landing point and she fell towards the heap of sharp metal below.
Gabriel knew from the moment she took flight that she wouldn't make it. He ran to the edge of the pile and tried to thrust himself between her and the pile of metal. His weight caused the metal to shift below him and he landed stiffly on a piece that jutted out from the rest. It penetrated his skin and he could feel it break at least two of his ribs, sending a unusual sensation through his body. Not one of misery, but of drunken intoxication....almost sensual.
He only barely heard the slight yelp from just beyond his sight. He knew she would be in bad shape. He pushed himself off of the shank that had punctured his side. He couldn't help but let out a loud roar as he did. He relished in the pain and made his way over the majority of the debris. When he laid his eyes upon Etris, he could feel the sting of tears in his eyes. He felt nothing as he tried to reach for her. Her body was limp and just out of his grasp. He stretched out his body as best he could, but he still couldn't reach. When he heard the creak and moan of the metal shifting below him, he braced himself as best he could.
When he came to, he was back at the main camp he and the rest of the men had created a few months earlier. When he tried to sit up a sharp pain shot through his body. That pain gave him the strength necessary to rise to his feet. He looked down and saw the bandage that was wrapped around his torso. Something seemed strange though. The stains were black. They appeared to be similar to blood stains, but he saw no trace of actual human blood. He quickly shook his thoughts away as the broken images started to flood his memory as he thought back to what had happened.
He walked out of the backroom he had woken up in and saw Etris' father kneeling before a fire. His face spoke a million words Gabriel never needed to hear. His gaze almost cut Bane in two. It was the only time Gabriel had truly felt as though he had a heart.....and it was breaking.
He slowly gathered his things and placed them in a small pack he rested on his back. He never looked back as he walked away from the small encampment. He continued to walk for miles and miles and as he got further and further away, he pushed any memory of Etris from his mind. He would forget her, along with the emotions he had felt. Never again would he allow himself to feel something for another. Never again would he realize he had a heart.
(Comments Welcomed)
Brigadier General Matas
You should add that you enjoyed the pain for some reason and that the blood was black
Nice though
Darth Malice
Changes have been made, and thanks for the comment.
