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Go get it! Jace urged.

Immediately, Gehenna transformed into her droid body and laser blasts peppered the Cetix that had just heard the metallic rolling sound she was giving off. The high-pitch whine of the lasers ended as the Cetix--with holes in its carapace large enough to roll through--slumped to the side

Ah, it’s blocking the way, Jace said.

No worries! Gehenna sounded gleeful.

Suddenly, she had what looked suspiciously like a lightsaber emitting from one of her arms. It was purple. He tried not to laugh. Obviously, she was somewhere in between Anakin and Vader, not blue, not red, but purple. She sliced the Cetix in several pieces. She hopped over the slices and was rolling away again with just a little smear of blood on her chassis.

They barreled around another corner and came upon two Omull. The lightsaber was out again, cutting through the Omull’s legs as Gehenna rolled underneath them. She sent laser blasts up into their bodies at the same time. One blast ran all the way to the top of the Omull’s head and it exploded everywhere, painting the hallway with blood. She moved so fast that she was gone before the Omull collapsed behind her.

Three down! She enthused.

You’re so bloodthirsty, Gehenna, he laughed.

Should I not be?

Her rolling slowed a little.

Wait, no, I mean yes, you should be! The Khul aren’t redeemable. They want to hurt everyone, Jace assured her.

I thought so too, but my people had other ideas, Gehenna said.

Your people? Jace lifted an eyebrow.

His eyes were closed, but he could actually see himself lying back in the chair in the Command Room. He looked ill. Amana and Thaddon were standing between him and the door, weapons at the ready.

What? Gehenna asked.

Your people. You just mentioned “your people,” Jace reminded her.

I did? She sounded bewildered.

Yeah, something about them not wanting to kill Khul? Jace poked her.

Really? I don’t remember that! How fascinating! Ooooh, look! Another Cetix! I’m going to make Cetix sushi out of it!

She rolled faster, dodging the larva balls and the grenade that the Cetix sent towards them, before she leaped into the air with lightsaber ready and sliced the Cetix into three, quivering, bleeding coils. She landed on the other side of the creature with a cry of triumph.

You’re a murderball, Gehenna! Jace said, impressed. You and Davies really thought of everything with that build!

I suppose we should say that George Lucas thought of a lot of things. We just copied… and improved! She crowed.

Now, now, we mustn’t elevate ourselves too much here over George, Jace laughed. He is the master!

He made the prequels, she pointed out, mirroring his own thoughts on those.

Yeah, but the sequels were worse, Jace sighed.

I liked the hint of romance between Rey and Ben, but--

OMULL, GEHENNA! Two o’clock!

She sent five powerful laser blasts towards the Khul that pulped its head. It slumped to the ground. She had to slice and dice again to get past. She was covered in Khul blood now as they rolled.

He was still worried about the “your people” thing even as he allowed himself to admire Gehenna’s handiwork. He wondered if that had been triggered by the database somehow. He hadn’t let her interact with it. But she had known it was there when they were on the landing pad on the roof. Or maybe Gehenna was still hiding things from him. But he didn’t think so. In fact, she really seemed to have no idea she’d said that line about her people. It was something to think about later and to comb her code. He had to understand what was going on here.

Once I’m hooked up with the Osiris, I’ll be able to figure this out easier, he thought.