[K18 - Burnin Konn - FZ] The Growing Flame

In orbit above Burnin Konn...

Light burned into Carm’s eyes.

He sucked in a breath, and pain ripped through him. Not a burn. Not a stab. An inferno. Dang ferrick.

He tried to move and instantly regretted it.

To his left, Anja sat slumped in a chair, chin dipped to her chest, fighting sleep. Dark circles shadowed her eyes.

"...Anja?" he croaked. His voice sounded wrong. Thin. Distant. It hurt to force the word out.

Her head snapped up.

"Carm!" She surged to her feet, relief breaking across her face. "I thought I’d lost you."

She wrapped her arms around him carefully. Even so, white-hot spikes of pain lanced through his body. He didn’t let himself make a sound. Despite the aching, he was glad she was here.

"What… happened?" The words came from him but sounded like they belonged to someone else.

"He awakens." Carm turned his head to the sound of the new voice.

Deander marched into the medbay to his right. More alarming... Carm followed a strange sensation down to where his arm should have been.

Servos whirred, cold metal flexed. A mechanical arm twitched where he remembered flesh and muscle.

"You were unconscious for several weeks," Deander said evenly. "Anja refused to leave your side. My soldiers could learn from her dedication." Carm managed the faintest smile. "I pity the next Imperial assassin they send," Deander added. "I don't think there's a person in the galaxy that could get between you two."

Memory returned in jagged flashes. There was a ridge, then streak of red light. He was hitting the mud hard, and there was blood all around him.

"The Remnant sent a Shadow Trooper," Deander continued. "Your Weequay companion dispatched him before we could extract information. We believe his orders were to eliminate us both. You saved my life, Carm."

Carm’s thoughts swirled. They’d been so careful preparing for that job. How had the Remnant known?

"I think you’re asking yourself the same question I did," Deander said, voice darkening. "Only one individual beyond those present knew the time and location of the deal."

Carm felt something heavier than pain settle in his chest... Drego.

"Your pirate lord betrayed you," Deander said matter-of-factly, like it didn't throw Carm's whole life out of balance. "Myself and my Markedons were just an additional prize to draw their attention."

Rage cut clean and cold through the haze.

"We moved you immediately," Deander continued. "Brought you somewhere beyond the Empire's grasp. The vessel you’re aboard is yours now. Consider it... compensation, along with the arm, for the weapons, and for taking a blast bolt meant for me."

Carm flexed the metal fingers slowly. Weeks gone- his arm gone.

"I'd like nothing more than to get my revenge on that pirate with you, but my war with the Remnant takes me on another path," Deander said. "That said, I will not leave you unprepared. One of my finest Agrippan Scouts will remain at your side. Letus will assist you in destroying Drego Karsk. This warship will ensure his pirates don't give you too much trouble."

Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor. "Well, well. You look like a man who misplaced an arm."

Carm froze... That voice. "Gire?" His throat tightened. "You died during Ka’Pa the Hutt’s civil war!"

His older brother stepped into view, removing his heavy helmet, a lattice of clawed scars raking one side of his face.

"Close," Gire chuckled. "But I picked the winning side. I intend to do the same here. Ka’Pa’s allowed me and my crew to throw in with you."

Anja blinked between them. “You didn’t mention you had a brother."

"Didn’t seem relevant," Carm muttered, realizing he and Anja had a lot to discuss. There were new feelings here to figure out.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you, Gire. I'm Anja," she said with a smile.

More footsteps approached. "Kark. Is the whole quadrant coming in here?" Carm thought.

A woman entered- poised, radiating power effortlessly.

"Welcome to Burnin Konn," she said smoothly. "I am Lady Pria."

Carm knew the name. Most people in this sector did.

"When word reached me from Barkhesh that Drego’s crew had begun fracturing, I contacted the Markedons there, and they brought you here" she continued. "Farstine’s trade routes suffer under that pirate lord's grip. The Flame of Zhar would benefit from his removal."

She studied him carefully. "I offer you sanctuary. Resources. A home."

The Flame were infamous. Ruthless. Efficient. Profitable. If Carm wanted revenge, he would need backing, and there weren't many options better than the syndicate.

"I’ll accept," Carm said slowly. "On one condition. When I retake Cinder Station, I run it. You get your percentage of everything that passes through those lanes. But command is mine."

The room was silent. Lady Pria smiled faintly.

"Agreed. Though I can show you how to extract far more than simple hauls. Piracy is crude. Control through influence is much more profitable."

Carm nodded slightly. There was probably a lot he could learn from her.

"I apologize that I can't stay long. I have business on Bespin." Lady Pria said as she turned toward the door.

"You’ll need every ally you’ve gathered, and then some" she said over her shoulder. "Even with a warship, a brother returned from the dead, and the Flame at your back... revenge is an ugly business."

The door slid shut behind her.

"Well," Carm said, glancing around the crowded medbay, "if you don’t mind… I’d appreciate a few moments without an audience."

A few knowing looks passed between them. Boots shuffled. Nods and murmurs answered him. One by one, they filed out.

Anja started to rise with the others. Carm caught her hand.

"Would you stay?"

She didn’t hesitate. "Of course."

The hatch sealed with a soft hiss, and for the first time since he’d opened his eyes, the room felt quiet.

Carm swallowed. "This last few months… what we’ve been through…" He exhaled sharply. "Ugh Anja, I’m no good at this."

Blaster fights? Yes. Negotiations? Sometimes. This? Kriff...

She watched him struggle for another moment before shaking her head faintly. “Shut up, Carm.”

She leaned in and kissed him.

The pain subsided. The ship, the betrayal, the pending war- all of it gone in that moment to the warmth of her hand against his chest.

When she pulled back, her forehead rested lightly against his. "We’ve survived too much in too little time," she said softly. "We have a lot we still need to figure out. But I’m not going anywhere."

"I’m just glad you’re here," she added. "And that we can be… us."

"Yeah," he said, a grin beaming across his face. "Me too."

He flexed the cold fingers of his new hand. Drego had taken his arm. Now Carm would take everything from him.