Operation Darkness: From the Shadows By Dour Watcher (name witheld for purposes unknown)(as told to Sylvana Lorrdain) I had not been able to follow Sylvana to the station, but I had thought she would be all right with her younger brother and their new found talents for protection. She was only going to be there for a couple of weeks, and would have been returning a few days from 'now'. I hate being wrong, and if ever I can help it, I will never be wrong again. I do not wish to speculate over what had happened that fateful eve. Silent alarms rang in the headquarters, the King and Queen were summoned. Terra was being invaded by creatures whose moral compunctions made the film ID4 look like a walk in the proverbial park. I remember being truly afraid for the first time since I was young; that in itself was terrifying. No one saw me in the shadows, watching as they learned of this fatal threat... of Moonbase's destruction. When I learned there were survivors, I could barely dare to hope. I was there in the shadows when they arrived. Majick and Corletti exited the 'Batwing' first, visibly shaken yet with an air of those returning from a successful battle. They may just have, judging from the scoring nearly covering their fighter. The two seated X-wing landed on the B's heels, cockpit opening to let out a weary, haunted looking Cochran. As these three moved away from their crafts, my gaze turned to the second seat in the X. I am not embarrassed to say I was both relieved and disheartened by the sight of Sylvana shakily exiting. Why was I disheartened? In that moment, I knew we would not be seeing young Arrek again any time soon... if ever at all. She nearly fell down the ladder, so badly shaken was she. I noted her limping as she approached the Royal Atners, and winced at the size of the bloody dressing attatched to her thigh. Whatever it was she had been saying never got to be completed as she fell unconscious. I saw Cochran catch her automatically, and hurried over to the small group. Donning the Mendellian accent like a second skin, I bowed to the Royals. "My King and Queen, may I be so bold as to request permission to take this lady to the infirmary?" "Please do, thank you," himself said, understandably concerned. "Let us know when she wakes up," requested herself. Cochran looked haunted and numb as he handed Sylvana to me. Whatever had happened up there had changed him considerably. If he came out all right on the other end of the dark tunnel he had gotten himself into, he would likely be much the stronger for it. I cradled her body to myself as I rushed from the Batcave to the infirmary. "Everything's going to be all right... don't give up," I encouraged her senseless form. The staff must already have been notified, for when we arrived, there was a place ready and waiting for her. The bandage was removed, revealing a long, ugly burn. At least she was alive. I held her hand tightly in mine, lest she awake during the painful abrasive cleaning and redressing of the wound. She did not, and when they had finished, I took her in my arms once again, telling them I would bring her to her room for recovery. As I carried her through the hallways, I soon heard a motorised trundling of sorts trailing along behind me. I turned to look over my shoulder, and there was was R7F8 trying to hide himself from my sight in a doorway. I couldn't help but chuckle. By now I'd learned of Sylvana's droid's loyalty. The name 'Fate' fit him all too well. When I didn't move away, he peeked out, whistling questioningly. "Yes, you can come along, Fate. Keep me company." He twittered happily, and fell in behind me.