The Stars Between -- (VLD)

[9] Aw heck

The next morning found Lance all suited up for his mission. His new armour glinted dully in the dim lights, its shine visible even in the low light level. He strapped a gun to his back- it was small, collapsible, and easily hidden under his backpack, which was laden with all the supplies he would need for his first resistance mission.

All in all, it made for a rather impressive image, and Lance was definitely giving off the "don't mess with me or I'll gut you" impression.

Well at least he would have been, if he wasn't hunched in the med bay trying not to cry as Kelaan strapped two of the fingers on his left hand together, one of them broken from where he had smacked the kitchen table with it.

"Stop whining, Paladin Lance, you have had far worse injuries I'm sure." Kelaan said, staring pointedly at his still wrapped ankle, before jabbing a needle of what Lance thought was probably pain killer of some kind into his arm. It was quite obvious that Kelaan did not approve of his assignment.

"I need my fingers for finger guns!" Lance sniffled, whimpering as Kelaan wrapped another layer of tape around them. Not to mention that he definitely needed his fingers to fire a real gun.

Lance was thankful that he'd smacked the table with his left hand. Shooting like this would have been extremely painful. Also inaccurate.

Kelaan rolled her eyes, a small smile gracing her lips as she whacked him upside the head. Lance shrieked, attempting to stop his fall without further injuring his ankle. It didn't work, and Lance scowled up at Kelaan, who was doing her best to not laugh at him.

Lance grinned, grabbing her hand and allowing her to haul him to his feet.

"Careful now, or I'll become a full time member of the leggy squad!" Lance joked, steadying himself with the wall.

"Leggy squad? Do you perhaps mean Rolo, Matthew and Rosaline?" Kelaan asked, amusement radiating from her eyes, and her horn, which was glowing a dull shade of yellow.

"Er well, I- um" Lance stammered, trying to cover up his mistake.

"It is a fitting title." Kelaan mused, smiling gently as she stepped aside, arranging a few papers. Lance's dismissal was clear, and he grinned, heading for the exit.

"Bye Kelaan, see you later!" Lance chuckled, stepping out the door.

"I should hope not!" She called back, causing Lance to grin once more.

As the door closed, Kelaan's smile dropped into a frown. She stared down at the papers in front of her, various notes written out in red pen.

Kelaan coughed, wiping a little fleck of purple substance from her mouth as she did so.

Again, she looked down at the papers, these ones blank. She looked at the purple stain on her sleeve with disdain, smiling sadly down at it.

"Perhaps it is time for an apprentice."

Lance crawled forward on his stomach, keeping to the pink undergrowth as he moved to his position.

In the distance he could see Roy, who was in a similar position. She nodded at him before moving her attention below, where Olly stood weaponless, in plain sight of their target.

Lance switched on his communicator, keeping silent as he listened to what was going on below.

Olly was already disguised, having shifted her appearance a little to match the planet's inhabitants. Lance could see her face as she scrunched it up, as if she was concentrating.

All of a sudden, Olly burst into tears, falling to the floor. Lance saw a pained expression cross Roy's face, before it settled back into an expression of complete calm and she focussed back down the scope of her rifle. They needed to focus.