Woman without a Country

"I can't believe he's still asleep," Mical laughed, and kissed Atton again.
With a soft sigh, Atton returned the kiss and nestled back into the soft embrace instead of opening his eyes.
"He's awake," smiled Ludmilla, "he just doesn't want to get up. Do you blame him?" She ran her hands through Atton's hair again. "Do we have a reason to get up?"
"Well, I'm sure there are a million things that we should be doing," said Mical before he leaned over and kissed Atton again.
"Is that one of them?" she asked with amusement. Atton's head was pillowed on her breasts, and he was wrapped around her, while Mical was on the other side, half sitting up and periodically kissing Atton in a fruitless attempt to wake him up. "You know, you could kiss me once or twice. It wouldn't kill you."
Mical blushed guiltily, and moved up to kiss Ludmilla. Her lips were firm, but full and generous, and he pulled away, slightly breathless. He swallowed nervously, and tried to think of what he should say, but before he could say anything, Atton was kissing him, then Ludmilla, then somehow both of them at the same time.
"This is wonderful," said Atton, his voice shy and full of unexpected happiness. "I'm not getting up, I have everything I want right here."
Ludmilla laughed joyously. "Everything?"
"Well, we're missing a few things, but I'm content," Atton smiled, and laid his head on her breasts again, and watched Mical smiling at him. "Nothing important."
Ludmilla laughed again, and drew Atton up to her lips for a kiss. "Well, I'd starve to death if I stayed in here for the rest of my life. And didn't you want babies or something?"
Mical looked at Atton curiously, and Atton blushed. "Really?"
"I'll go make some food," said Atton, and slipped out of bed without answering, pausing only to wrap a sheet around his hips before he ran out of the room.
Mical propped his head on his elbow and watched him leave.
"Isn't he lovely?" smiled Ludmilla, and stretched out in the bed, relaxing.
"He is," Mical agreed. "He really wants children?"
Ludmilla nodded. "He hated being an only child." She almost said more, but decided against it. "But we have to use a clinic, because I'm not giving up a year and ruining my body when there are perfectly good crèches available."
Mical laughed. "You don't seem like the mothering type." He looked at her body, the power and beauty of her form evident beneath the sheet covering her. "You are rather lovely yourself," he observed, "but more of a warrior goddess than a mother."
She smiled at the compliment. "Thank you," she leaned over and kissed Mical gently on the lips, and when he didn't pull away, drew him closer for more.
"Hey, General, what the – " Bao-Dur blinked, and looked away. "Sorry to interrupt, but Kreia threatened me if I didn't get you out here."
Ludmilla made a noise of impatience. "I'll be right there."
"Not with a naked man in your bed, you won't. Sorry, General, I know you."
Mical laughed before he could stop himself. "I'll get up," he smiled. He got out of the bed, and Ludmilla offered him a sheet to wear, which he took without thinking.
"Seriously, General? What do you have against me?"
"At the moment? Nothing at all. If you come closer, I could fix that," she said helpfully.
Mical concentrated on covering his nudity, and pointedly did not turn around to look at the beautiful woman lying naked in the bed behind him.
Ludmilla laughed and stood, then picked up her clothes from the floor. "No, really, I'll be right out." She got dressed, and walked out to the main cabin, where Visas and Mira where trying to get something from Canderous, and had wrestled him down to the floor. "Where's Kreia?"
"She's – stop hitting me, woman, is that any way to treat the Mandalore? She's locked herself in her quarters. Says she's had enough of our Mandalorian perversions."
Ludmilla grinned. "Hey, gotta do something about all those unmarried women left after the wars. It's for the good of the Republic!"
Bao-Dur looked at her. "Then why are you hogging two men?"
"I'm getting my revenge on the Republic for agreeing to my exile," she grinned wickedly. Ludmilla threw her head back and laughed, then pulled Visas away from Canderous. "Shoo, stop causing such a ruckus."
"But you like ruckuses," smiled Visas. She straightened her gown and carefully checked that her veil was straight, then ran into the bedroom and locked the door.
Mira looked up in surprise, then down at Canderous, who opened his hand to show that it was empty. "Oh, that bitch!" screamed Mira in rage, and sprang to her feet.
"No, none of that," said Ludmilla firmly, and blocked Mira from running to the bedroom, where Visas was giggling uncontrollably. "And you, get up," she said, gently nudging Canderous with her toes.
"But the view from here is excellent," he grinned as he stood.
"Mira, go sit down. Canderous, tell Visas to come out and stop being a brat. Bao-Dur, go get Atton."
"Something up, General?"
Ludmilla straightened herself. "We're approaching Korriban. I'll get Kreia. I want everyone here, and ready to listen."
She walked over to Kreia's quarters, giving everyone enough time to throw off their immature act and get serious again.
"You feel it, don't you?" said Kreia softly.
Ludmilla nodded. The ship had dropped out of hyperspace, and was orbiting a world that belonged unmistakably to the Dark Side.
"Have you been here before?" Kreia asked curiously. "During your travels?"
"I've never set foot on Korriban," said Ludmilla shortly. "Come on, let's get everyone together and talk."
Kreia smiled slowly to herself, and followed Ludmilla to the main cabin.
Everyone, even the droids, had gathered and looked curiously at Ludmilla.
"Sorry, but it's lecture time." She brought up the galaxy map on the console. "This is the Horuset system, there's one planet, Korriban, and two debris belts. We are going to Korriban, which is bad because the debris fields make it very easy for anyone to hide." She pointed out the two criss-crossing bands of debris in orbit around Horuset's sun. "Notice there is no way to approach Korriban without crossing both belts. Basically, from here on, we'll assume someone is watching us. Keep your eyes open. If we're going to run into Sith anywhere, it would be here."
"What's so special about Korriban?" asked Mira.
"It's the homeworld of the Sith," said Ludmilla. "It is a world of the Dark Side, and the traditional burying ground of the Sith Lords.
"Why would a Jedi come here?"
"It's a really good hiding place," said Ludmilla calmly, "no one would look for a Jedi Master on a place like Korriban. The problem is – "
"Korriban itself," said Kreia softly.
Mical looked at her in confusion.
"It is a place of much power, and it calls to those who can hear it. It is the repository of much knowledge and wisdom, both Dark and Light."
"Light?" said Mical doubtfully.
Kreia smiled slowly. "Most of the Sith Lords buried on Korriban were great Jedi Masters first. Many teachings believed lost still linger with the spirits that litter Korriban."
"Spirits?" Mira stared at her. "Like, ghosts?"
Kreia nodded. "The Sith homeworld holds tightly to the spirits of the departed. They rarely become completely one with the Force, regardless of how they used the Force when they were alive. Hence the vast proliferation of tombs." Kreia turned to Ludmilla. "Knowing what I do of Master Vash, I would suspect that she has chosen the remains of the Sith Academy to conceal herself. She could easily hide within the vast echoes of the ruins and the slaughter, and in the event she was discovered, she could withdraw to the Valley and take refuge in one of the Great Tombs."
"Is there anything left of Dreshdae?" Ludmilla asked.
"No, what remained after Revan's escape was destroyed by the Republic and the Council a year or so after Revan disappeared."
Ludmilla looked sharply at Kreia, who frowned at her. "All right, I'll look it up later."
"That's slightly incorrect," coughed Mical, embarrassed to be correcting an Elder.
"Oh?" said Kreia with gentle interest. "I have often wondered what the Republic told their soldiers of the fall of Korriban."
"I was with the task force that was sent to Korriban," Mical explained. "We found it barren and lifeless. The Jedi sealed the tombs, and what was left of the Academy. We did, however, bomb Dreshdae," he said nervously. "There were pirates and mercenaries that had taken refuge there, and they wouldn't surrender."
"And no Sith Lords were found there?" asked Kreia, with barely restrained curiosity.
"No, none. There was clear evidence that a few had escaped Korriban shortly before our task force arrived."
"Evidence?" asked Bao-Dur.
"They were Sith Lords," said Mical. "By evidence, I mean bodies, insane survivors, and stolen ships."
"Great," said Mira. "So, they're all gone, right? We're not going to run into any Sith Lords now, right?" She looked around. "I'm going to need more grenades, aren't I?"
"Indeed, those of you who will be searching for Master Vash should be well prepared – and not just with weapons. This place calls strongly to those aligned with the Dark Side. No Sith Lord would be foolish enough to ignore this place."
"Those of you?" said Atton quietly.
"I know my limits," said Kreia sharply. "If you explore Korriban's surface, you shall do so without me."
Ludmilla nodded slowly. "The ship is a good haven." She smiled wryly. "So long as the chocolate supply holds out." Ludmilla looked seriously at the crew. "I'm not going to ask anyone to come with me. If you want to come, you're welcome, but I'd rather take as small a group as possible, and do this as quickly as I can."
"General."
Ludmilla smiled. "Fine, fine, you can come, old man."
"May I come?" asked Visas nervously. "I – I want to know."
Ludmilla looked carefully at her. "All right," she agreed. "That should be enough. The rest of you, stay on the ship. If you have to leave it, stay as close as possible." She smiled softly. "It's not Coruscant, but the ship is a pretty good sanctuary."
Kreia looked at her. "Clever. Very, very clever," she said admiringly. "No wonder you left Korriban for last."
Mical looked at Ludmilla in surprise. "I never thought of it that way. That is amazing."
"Again, secret Jedi talk right in front of everyone, General?"
Ludmilla smiled, and gave a little sigh. "We're getting closer to Korriban. Atton, despite my personal inclinations, could you put some clothes on and get ready to find somewhere to land?"
"Land, boy. Not crash."
Atton rolled his eyes, and went to the cargo hold to get his clothes.
Ludmilla resisted for about half a Standard minute before she went in search of Atton.
"Oh, hello, beautiful," said Atton sweetly, and kissed her instead of buttoning the shirt he had just pulled on.
"Please stay on the ship," she said softly, and did the buttons for him.
Atton blinked at her. "Is it really that bad?"
"It's not that good," she tried to smile. "I don't like this place. Dark Side places like this get to me. I don't want to spend any more time here than I have to."
"And you think I would wander off and you'd have to come rescue me, is that it?" he smiled, and kissed her again. "Are there butterflies? I can't make any promises if butterflies are involved."
Ludmilla laughed, knowing that he was being silly just to reassure her. "It's a desert planet. No skwirrets, no butterflies."
"I'll be in the galley, hiding from Kreia. I'm only getting dressed because you told me to." Atton grinned, slightly wicked. "Oh, and now I can get Mical to pull my clothes off again."
Ludmilla made a soft noise of appreciation, and kissed him again. "And keep an eye on him, too."
"I'll keep two. And some hands."
"I like that plan," she purred, and kissed him one more time. "Okay, I'm going to go outside so you can finish getting dressed. But I want to make it clear, that I would far rather be lying naked on a beach somewhere with you and Mical, than going to Korriban."
"Oh," Atton said in surprise. "I like that idea. Can we do that someday? Why are we not doing that now?"
She shrugged. "Have to save the galaxy first. But yes, we can do that someday, and we will."
Atton smiled. "I'm looking forward to it."
Ludmilla kissed him again, a quick soft kiss on the lips, and then left the room, walking slowly and deliberately.
Atton lifted his jacket from the floor when he had thrown it, and checked the pockets. He looked at the door, half open, and noted that no one was paying any attention to him. He knelt down to find his shoes, and some other things, before putting on his jacket and walking out to pilot the ship.
T3 beeped curiously at him.
"Shut up, or I'll tell HK all your hiding places."
T3 spun around, then zipped away from Atton.
Mical walked into the cockpit. "Atton, I do hate to disturb you while you are working, but..."
Atton glanced over at him. Mical was wearing one of the Jedi robes that they had found in their travels. They suited him perfectly. "Then why are you doing it?" Atton circled the planet again, checking for danger before he approached the only landing zone available.
"Where are my clothes?"
"What? You're dressed. What are you talking about?"
Mical blushed slightly. "These are the clothes of a Jedi Master. They're not mine. My clothes are gone."
"Wait, you're claiming you're not a Jedi? Does anyone believe that?" Atton grinned at him. "You look fine. Stop worrying about it."
"Atton, why are all my clothes gone and replaced with Jedi robes?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Shush, I need to concentrate."
Mical sat down in the co-pilot's seat with a sigh, and scanned the area. "I'm more interested in when you did this. You were asleep for hours. Unless you did this earlier." He looked suspiciously at Atton. "You did! How long have you been planning this?"
Atton smiled and focused on piloting instead of answering him.
"And really, what kind of person thinks Jedi robes are sexy?" muttered Mical as they landed.
The crew gathered in the main cabin again, and Ludmilla opened the doors.
"Ugh, hot," she frowned. "Nice robes," she said to Mical before she jumped down into the fine sand.
Bao-Dur shook his head, and walked down the ramp properly. "I like this weather," he offered.
"You would, demon guy," Mira sneered. Bao-Dur pointedly ignored her, and she turned to Mical instead. "I have this terrible urge to hug you. You look exactly like one of the Jedi dolls I had when I was growing up."
"Notice she isn't finished growing up yet," said Bao-Dur quietly, and Ludmilla laughed.
Visas smiled and walked down the ramp to join them. "I am ready," she said quietly. She held out a pack. "Atton made food for us!"
Ludmilla looked up the ramp, and smiled gratefully at Atton. "Okay, let's get going." She resolutely turned and started walking through the Valley of the Dark Lords, Bao-Dur following her closely.
Visas waved goodbye, then ran after Ludmilla and Bao-Dur.
"Everything all right, General?"
Ludmilla sighed. "I don't want to be here. I want to go snuggle Atton, and watch him make out with Mical."
"A noble goal," Bao-Dur grinned, "but you're a little busy right now."
"I know! Why can't the galaxy save itself? Why do I have to do everything? Why can't my Dark Side temptation come in a form that doesn't make me whine?"
Bao-Dur burst out laughing.
"What do you mean?" asked Visas curiously.
"If I go back to the ship and let Master Vash die, I fail. The Dark Side wins, everybody suffers, and I never get to go surfing on Coruscant."
"What?"
"Nothing," she said irritably. "Never mind. Let's just keep going."
"You're worried about the kid, aren't you?" Bao-Dur asked, smiling softly.
"Of course I am!" Ludmilla stared as a small butterfly with bright purple wings fluttered past her. "Oh, that's - that's just not fair."
Bao-Dur stared after the tiny bug. "This place is a desert. Where did that come from?"
Ludmilla stopped, and fell to her knees. "That isn't fair," she snarled to herself. "That just - " She growled in frustration, and put her hands to her head.
"General, you don't seriously think that little thing is going to tempt Atton to the Dark Side, do you? I'm sorry, I just can't take evil seriously when it has purple wings. Especially not that purple."
She laughed shakily. "It looked more like something from a hothouse than a tomb."
"Maybe there's a garden somewhere around here," said Visas hopefully. "We can look for it when we're done!"
"General."
Ludmilla looked up at Bao-Dur.
"Have a little faith. You didn't come all this way to lose to a butterfly."
She smiled. "Thanks, old man." Bao-Dur held out his hand and helped her back to her feet. "Let's move on."
"Besides, Atton can't turn to the Dark Side," Bao-Dur grinned. "He'd become ugly."
Ludmilla laughed. "Oh, gross. Yellow eyes."
"Parched skin."
"Oh, dear," said Visas nervously. "Does that really happen?"
"Yes, it does. Also, your hair falls out and what's left, turns white." Ludmilla grinned. "Why do you think Sith Lords use statues instead of paintings?"
Visas touched her hair nervously. "I like my hair," she said shyly. "Is it wrong that I'm using personal vanity to keep myself on the path of Light?"
"It's more than just vanity," Ludmilla explained. "It's knowing that your appearance shows what you believe. There are no ugly Jedi. Even a Hutt would inspire faith and loyalty if one became a Jedi."
"And that's why there are no Hutts in the Order," grinned Bao-Dur.
"My skin would become ugly? Really?"
Bao-Dur tried not to laugh. "Yeah. Mottled, pasty, coarse. Like cheap leather."
"And," said Visas even more nervously, "what about babies?"
"I'm pretty sure Sith don't have babies," mused Ludmilla. "At least, I've never heard of them. I suppose, if they had a whole empire, they would. Eventually."
"Excuse me," said a Sith Assassin, decloaking right next to Ludmilla. "Are you serious about the hair thing? And the babies?"
Ludmilla, completely unsurprised by his presence, nodded. "Well, have you ever seen any Sith mothers? The more you rely on the Dark Side, the more your body reflects it."
"I have to go talk to my girlfriend."
Another assassin decloaked. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"They'll just assume I died," the first assassin shrugged. "Assuming anyone survives long enough to wonder. I'm going to get Rasa and get out of here. I don't want her to turn into an ugly, hairless skank."
"Good man," said Ludmilla approvingly, and the first assassin ran off.
The second assassin looked at her. "What kind of Jedi are you?"
"The kind that survives," she grinned. "How about you?"
The second assassin sighed. "That idiot couldn't fly a ship out of a paper bag."
Bao-Dur shook his head. "You'd better go after him."
The assassin looked curiously at Ludmilla, who still hadn't drawn a weapon. "Right... I'll just get going then." He dropped his mask and ran after his friend.
Bao-Dur laughed, but didn't say anything.
"What?" Ludmilla exclaimed. "It's not my fault he cares more about his girlfriend's looks than power."
"Right," Bao-Dur agreed. "You're glowing again."
"Atton wants three kids."
"Canderous just wants a boy and a girl."
"Women," Bao-Dur muttered. "Here's the entrance."
They stood in front of the open door. "Soo..." said Ludmilla calmly. "I guess we should pull out our weapons before we join the party."
"Did it just get colder?" asked Bao-Dur. "I hate the cold."
"Another reason not to turn to the Dark Side, then," Ludmilla grinned, and drew her lightsaber before she entered the ruins.

Atton walked into Kreia's room, carrying two steaming mugs. "Hey, I thought Mical was in here, taking more lessons on how to be a snooty Jedi." Atton grinned mischievously, and handed her the mug of chocolate. "Chocolate?"
"Thank you, boy. Your dog is roaming around the garage, fixing his lightsaber."
"Thanks," Atton walked out to find Mical. The door was still open, and Canderous was setting up perimeter security around the Ebon Hawk. Atton leaned against the door. "Where's Mira?"
"Setting traps on the approach," grunted Canderous.
"Have you seen Mical?"
"He was checking the turret."
"Oh." Atton watched the Mandalorian work.
"You could help," said Canderous, grinning. "Or at least take off your clothes."
Atton laughed. "I - what is that?" A pollen-covered butterfly floated just over Canderous' head, and started flying away. "No way," said Atton, as he set down the mug of coffee. "I thought this place was a desert!" He jumped down, and vaulted easily over the wall after the butterfly.
"Hey!" Canderous shouted. "What are you doing?"
"I'll be right back! It can't be far from here." Atton ran quickly, keeping close to the bright purple butterfly, and it led him to a perfectly arranged garden oasis, nestled invisibly among the rocks. Atton stared at the barely controlled riot of flowers and herbs, and dashed forward at the sight of a crest of peculiar stalks. "Sugarcane! I have to bring her some!"
"You're welcome to whatever you like," said a voice just behind him.
Atton whirled around, and saw a ghostly form hovering there. His first thought wasn't fear, it was a touch of envy. "Is this your garden? Well, was."
The ghost smiled. "My beloved lord made this garden for me. We tended it together, and spent many wonderful hours here."
"You don't look – or sound – much like a Sith." Atton looked curiously at the ghostly form. "Also, Sith gardeners? That just seems odd."
The ghost laughed, and sat down on a stone bench set just under an arbor made of the most beautiful climbing flowers that Atton had ever seen. "Oh, don't be deceived. I was a true Sith when I lived. Not a very brutal one," the ghost looked down and laughed slightly. "I was too vain to give myself wholly to the Dark Side."
"Oh, the whole eyes thing."
"Yes," the ghost said softly, "and it was always very important to me that my beloved lord looked at me with desire." The ghost looked at Atton. "But one day, I exposed my true power, and he looked at me differently for the first time."
"What happened?" asked Atton slowly.
The ghost leaned back against the arbor. "Fools, seeking to displace my beloved lord, sought to kill him when they thought he was at his weakest – thinking that I posed no threat. I killed them all," the ghost shrugged. "I was very angry at the time. I do not need to explain to you what it looks like when an angry Sith kills those who have angered him?"
Atton shook his head, and the ghost continued.
"But my beloved lord was disturbed at the show of my power. It had never occurred to him that I was a threat, and he was too much of a Sith to consider that I had only acted out of love for him."
Atton was silent.
The ghost shrugged. "I assured him of my loyalty with words, and came here the next day." The ghost gently touched a bush with bright green leaves and berries the color of old blood. "If he would not believe my words, I felt that I had to prove my loyalty with my actions. I made myself a little drink, and lay down to think over the best moments of my life." The ghost looked up at Atton. "And at the last, he finally came, and found me just in time to apologize bitterly. He begged me to stay with him, but it was too late." The ghost sighed sadly. "All that was good in him died as well, and he became one of the most powerful and brutal Sith Lords the galaxy has ever known. But all he wanted was me, and our lovely garden," the ghost spread out his arms, "and he knew that it was his own fault. He died, and was buried in his tomb, but could not leave it so long as he remained tied to the Dark Side. Just as I could not leave my garden to go to him. Not until," the ghost smiled softly, "someone convinced him to forgive himself could he free himself and return to the Light." The ghost looked at Atton again. "Do you know the difference between the Light and the Dark?"
Atton frowned at the ghost. "I'm not discussing philosophy with you."
The ghost smiled. "It is not only the choices that you make, but the reasons that you make them. Sacrifice and conquest are two sides of the same coin."
"That's great. I'm going to take some sugarcane and go."
"You are welcome to take whatever you find here."
Atton knelt down by the thick stalks, and carefully broke off all the ripest ones to bring back to the ship. "I don't believe you," he said suddenly, knowing that the ghost was still there, waiting. "I don't believe that he would have come to you. Not after he looked at you like that." Atton brushed at his face, pretending that he wasn't wiping away an angry tear. "And if he did, then why are you still here?"
The ghost looked at the valley, where the sun was starting to fall. "He should be here any moment now. Apologizing again, and trying to convince me to leave with him." The ghost smiled, and Atton could sense the mischievousness from the spirit. "I like to make him grovel. I was a Sith, remember?" The ghost laughed again. "I will go with him, eventually."
Atton carefully tied the stalks together before putting them away in a bag. "Not everyone is like that."
"No," the ghost agreed. "But I suppose it would take a little longer than a day to figure out whether they are or not. Ah!" The ghost stood suddenly, lighting up with joy so intense that Atton could feel it. "He's here!"
"I guess I should leave," said Atton quietly.
"If you wish," said the ghost. "I'm sure you can find better things to do."
Atton walked out of the beautiful garden, and felt something brush against him as he passed through the sheltering rocks that hid the entrance. He looked in surprise, but couldn't see anything.
"Is that who you were waiting for?" he heard someone ask in a deep voice, gravelly and warm. But he still couldn’t see anything.
"Yes," said the ghost, his arms around the other's neck, and he laid his head on the other's shoulder.
"Are you done, then? Can we leave now?" the voice asked softly.
"So impatient," the ghost laughed, and kissed the other.
Atton suddenly realized why he couldn't see the other ghost, and walked away. He easily climbed over the wall again, but there was no sign of Canderous or anyone else. He walked into the ship, and looked around.
Goto floated up to him. "There you are," Goto snapped. "The others went looking for you."
"Why?" said Atton innocently. "I said I'd be right back. Let me go put these away."
"Wait," snapped Goto, but Atton was already running down to the galley. "Irritating." Goto went to the communications room, and bounced angrily in surprise as the ship powered down. "What is he doing?"
Atton walked back upstairs. "Oops. I think the switch is in the pilot's room."
Goto made a noise of irritation and entered Atton's old quarters, now covered with Mira's clothing. "Where is it? Ah, there," the droid floated to the panel on the wall, and opened it. The resulting shock shorted out the droid completely, and Goto dropped to the floor, stunned.
Atton reached over, and pulled out some more wires, crippling the Ebon Hawk. T3 buzzed up to him, and chirped questioningly.
"Lock the ship after I leave, T3. Don't let anyone back on board unless Ludmilla is with them, understand?"
T3 beeped questioningly.
"Not without her. No one. Not even me," said Atton grimly. He put the components that he had removed in one of the many smuggling caches hidden all over the Ebon Hawk. "You can tell her where they are when she gets back."
T3 clicked and whistled another question.
Atton sighed. "Look, there are two things on this ship the Sith want: Kreia and the ship's navigation computer. They can't have them."
T3 beeped again.
"Yeah, well, by this time, they already have her."
T3 squealed in panic.
"I'm going to try." Atton sighed. "Sorry for all the times I yelled at you, little guy." Atton picked up the broken mug from the top of the ramp, and set it on the workbench. "I gotta get going." He walked down the ramp, and waited for T3 to seal the ship before he started running, hoping he was still in time.