Kashinina Perokon's Story

Naluma blinked, then bit her lip. "I was just up at the front speaking to the captain. We're caught in a strong current, so our trip will take a bit longer." She couldn't help but come closer to inquire.

"Why? Is something wrong?"

A stewardess came through one of the doors from the last cart, closing it tightly behind her. She was a dainty little thing, with a head of short white hair, sharp eyes, and pouty lips, like a doll's.

The door clicked behind her. Something it hadn't done before.

"Would you all like refreshments?" she asked, holding out a tray with one hand, the other behind her back.

Now Alexander was sure things were going awry. "I heard-" he paused, thinking about what he was going to do if he let on to his suspicions; or what Naluma would do for that matter. "Nothing," he said, "Everything's fine." He was glad his pistols were on his person, in case he needed to use them.

It was just then that another figure came into their quarters. "Would you all like refreshments?" she asked, holding out a tray of drinks and foods. Alexander knew better than to accept anything at this point, and kindly refused. He made note of the fact that her other hand was concealed behind her. He made sure to watch the stewardess closely.

"Is this current going to be a problem, Miss Saree?" he asked calmly.

Naluma lifted her chin, lips parted. One of her eyebrows raised.

In a nod, she gave him a smile. "Alright, then, Master Lancer. The current shouldn't be too problematic. We're just-"

It happened almost too quickly for anyone to humanly follow what had happened. One moment, Naluma was speaking, relaxed, smiling.

And before they knew it, the stewardess had thrown a silver knife into her shoulder. At the same time, she had dropped her tray, and smoke filled the cabin.

It looked like she hadn't been serving them a snack after all.

Events unfolded rather swiftly, and ended with Naluma taking a knife to the shoulder. His pistols came out, pointed at both of the women, his right-hand pistol aimed at Naluma in response to his suspicions.

"Both of you freeze!" he shouted, guns trained on the "T" of their bodies, to reduce the chance of missing his shot. "What the hell's going on here?" he demanded. His trigger fingers were ready to execute the both of them at a moment's notice.

"I want an explanation and I want it now! Who are you --both of you-- and what in the hell is going on here?"

Before he would be able to get a shot out, the white-headed woman was hidden by the smoke. Naluma was hidden now, too, but one could still hear her pained gasps and whimpers.

A knife whizzed through the air toward Alexander, parting the smoke as it flew for the man's chest.

The hurtling knife served as no consequence to Alexander as he stood in its path. His personal shielding system activated and deflected the throwing weapon just before it could collide with his person. The shield dissipated and reverted to recharge mode, while Alexander began shooting into the smoke towards the would-be assassin.

"Naluma! Are you alright?" he shouted. Things were going to hell, and he had no idea which side of the gate to be on. He couldn't let his suspicions cloud his judgement, but at this point, all he could do was watch his own back and stay alive.

The bullets seemed to hit something, as there was a grunt somewhere in the smoke, but they didn't do as Alexander intended immediately. Another knife whistled through the cabin, this one to his shoulder, and another, for his leg. They weren't as accurately thrown as the last.

"... I... I'm... fine... get..." Naluma rose her hand, blood rolling down her wrist and arm, and her fingers lit aglow in a light. The smoke parted and fell to the ground as dust, revealing the assassin, on her knees with several bullet wounds in her body: one through her chest, one through her neck, and another in her arm.

She was trying to open the door, but she fell on her face, unconscious, after.

"Don't... kill her yet..."

The first knife missed entirely, clanging against the wall behind Alexander and falling limply to the ground. The second, however, managed to cut his leg, leaving it bleeding not too severely, but any wound was enough for concern. He aimed his pistols into the smoke, ready for any incoming attacks. Naluma sounded weak, but she was still able to talk, and to tell Alexander to hold his fire, which he did.

He waited for further activity, and further "orders". He wanted to check on his men. Their vitals weren't showing up in his HUD, and this new woman's appearance was quite disturbing, to say the least.

Naluma struggled to her feet, clasping her wound. She leaned against the wall and looked at Alexander.

"I didn't expect an attack down here. On this ship. I apologize. This isn't the normal greeting." She tried to give him a lighthearted grin, but her brow furrowed.

"That isn't a Supremacy soldier. Not one I recognize. Are you hurt? Are you alright?"