It's been a while.

Amelia bowed respectfully in front of Dooku, holding out the datapad. "I have returned, Master."

Dooku glanced down at the datapad, furrowing his brow. "So soon? Were you able to get the information I required?"

"Yes, Master." Amelia dipped her head. "It went smoothly."

Dooku gestured at a nearby table. "Put it there. I will deal with it later."

Amelia bowed again and stepped towards the door, halting when he cleared his throat. She faced him again, keeping her gaze on the floor in front of him. "Yes?"

"There were no... problems?" Dooku laced his fingers together behind his back. "Anything that needs my attention?"

"No, Master." Amelia shook her head. "Everything went well."

Dooku hummed before saying, "Because my spies say that you let them live. They even reported you to their superiors."

Amelia felt her blood run cold. She kept her expression neutral as she softly said, "I was in a hurry. I couldn't go back to kill them."

Dooku studied her momentarily. "I expect it dealt with. You're supposed to be my faceless agent. And now they know your face. Either you deal with them... or I deal with you."

Amelia ran her tongue over her front teeth. "Yes, Master. I shall kill them."

"Oh, and test the plan on them. But kill them afterwards." Dooku returned his attention to the battle plans in front of him. "That will be all."

Amelia bowed again before exiting, mind already going to her strategy. She had a vague idea forming in her head, although it wouldn't be pleasant.

Tech handed Hunter painkillers and a water canteen. "Here. These will help with the headache."

Hunter reached a hand out from his blanket cocoon. He was currently fighting a migraine, due to his head slamming into Tech's when Amelia used the Force on them. Tech's headache was minor, so he was pushing through it. He had more important things to deal with, namely Amelia.

He had filed a report about her being a Sith. They were currently awaiting their next mission, which was a remarkable stroke of luck considering Hunter had been paralyzed in pain for two days.

Tech lifted his goggles away from his eyes to briefly rub at them. He had slept for exactly eight hours in the last two days.

"Any word yet?" Crosshair inquired as he stepped into the cockpit.

Tech put his datapad down in his lap. "No. They're unsure of what to do. They might dispatch a Jedi, but there aren't many to spare."

"Why don't we just do it?" Crosshair sunk into the co-pilot's seat. "We've handled worse."

"Perhaps. I'll make a note of it in my message to our superiors," Tech replied. He typed something quickly before glancing back up. "She kissed me."

Crosshair frowned, sticking a toothpick into his mouth. "What? Who did?"

"Amelia," Tech casually said. "She kissed me."

"And you're bringing this up because..." Crosshair trailed off.

Tech blinked. "Was it not relevant to the conversation? We were discussing Amelia."

Crosshair sighed and flicked the toothpick to the other side of his mouth. "Okay, Tech'ika. So she kissed you. So what? I doubt it meant anything. Unless you want it to mean something?"

Tech frowned and drummed his fingers along his thigh. "I do not believe so. I despise her. She's a Separatist, and a Sith. She lied about who she is. I detest her."

"And?" Crosshair smirked slightly around the toothpick. "Sometimes that makes it better."

Tech cocked his head in curiosity. "What do you mean by that?"

Crosshair sighed and stood, patting Tech's shoulder. "You'll know what to do."

Tech stared after him, puzzled. He did not know what to do.

Yet he returned to his report, adding the final details before hitting send. He expected a response soon, considering a new Sith was a fairly major development in the war.

"How's it goin'?" Wrecker asked as he threw himself where Crosshair had been sitting. 

"Fine," Tech curtly responded as the control panel of the ship started beeping at him. He flipped a switch above him before taking control of the ship from autopilot. "Hold on."

"What?" Wrecker strapped in. "What's happenin'?"

"There's a ship floating ahead. Not moving, but still a potential threat," Tech informed him before pressing a button. "I'm going to get closer."

"Closer? What if it's dangerous?" Wrecker questioned.

Tech didn't answer. He was focused on the distress signal coming from the ship. "They need assistance."

"Then we should help," Wrecker said. 

Tech hummed in agreement. "Boarding now. Get your blaster in case it's needed."

Wrecker unbuckled himself and grabbed his weapon. Tech finished with the dashboard before following, quickly catching Crosshair up with everything. He decided not to disturb Hunter's rest before he grabbed his pistols.

The ramp lowered, and they were aboard the strange ship. Tech was first off, doing a quick check before announcing the area as clear.

Then he noticed it.

The ragged breathing.

"Hello?" Tech called out, switching his pistol's safety off. "Is somebody there? We found your distress signal."

A familiar set of hair raised itself from behind a storage crate, along with her glasses. She blinked slowly at him before saying, "Tech?"

He raised his blaster at her. "Amelia."

They stared at each other for a moment before Crosshair broke the silence by saying, "Under the order of the Republic, you are under arrest for-"

"I'm sorry," Amelia whispered. She ran her hands through her hair and her shoulders shook. "Please, just save me! I don't care if I end up in a cell! Just save me!"

Tech's grip wavered. "Save you from what?"

Amelia sniffled. "I don't want to be a Separatist. Count Dooku manipulated me. He- He made me do unspeakable things. I'll face trial! Just please- Save me!"

"I don't like this," Crosshair murmured. 

"Maybe she means it," Wrecker muttered.

Amelia shuddered and fell forwards, tripping over her own legs. "T-Tech."

He hated her.

He despised her.

Just looking at her made Tech want to punch something.

And yet...

And yet he couldn't stop thinking about the kiss.

Sometimes that makes it better.

"Your call," Crosshair hissed to Tech. 

"Please." Tears sprung from Amelia's eyes as she rested her head against Tech's thigh. Her long lashes brushed against his armour. "Please, Tech. I'm so sorry."

Tech swallowed thickly before he reached down with a shaking hand and stroked a strand of her hair from her face. "You're now under our custody until you can be transferred to a prison."

"Thank you," Amelia gratefully said. "Thank you, Tech."

When they returned to their ship, Crosshair tossed a set of binders her way. "Put those on."

Amelia did so without question, letting out a cry once they were on. 

"What's wrong?" Tech asked.

"Nothing." Amelia stared up at him with wide eyes. "I just... I was tortured. I'm fine though. I'm fine."

"We have a med kit," Tech offered. "Painkillers and such."

"I wouldn't want to waste your supplies..." Amelia hesitated.

"Don't worry about it," Tech softly said as he pulled it out. 

Crosshair gave Wrecker a pointed look before the two of them shuffled away into the cockpit.

Tech opened the bag and set it next to Amelia. "Where are your injuries?"

"I was in binders for a day. Bruised pretty badly," Amelia told him. "I also might've broken a rib."

Tech uncapped a bacta cream and began to rub it into their skin. His touch was gentle on the bruises. "Why did they do this to you?"

"Because I failed my mission. I was supposed to kill you but... I couldn't. You're not just soldiers. You're people." Amelia ducked her head to avoid his gaze. 

Tech's lips parted. Maybe she really had changed. 

Amelia gave him a strained smile. "I'm sorry about how things went between us. I thought it would be easier for you if I ended it like that."

Tech felt something in his stomach flutter. "I understand."

"I... I really would like for something to happen between us, though." Amelia's eyes dropped to his lips.

Tech's movements on her wrist came to a stop. "Oh."

Amelia shifted and rested her head on his chest. "Do you think you can forgive me? Maybe... Maybe we can work something out."

Tech's throat flexed. He was fairly certain his heart was about to beat out of his chest. "Ah. Perhaps. Although with you in prison, communication will be difficult."

"But," Amelia's voice dropped to a whisper, "what if I don't go to prison? I could just hang around with you guys. Wouldn't that be fun, Tech?"

Hunter stumbled out of the cockpit, just as Tech was about to reply. "What's she doing here?"

Mando'a translations:

Tech'ika~~~~~ Little Tech