The droid was much faster than the veteran ranger had expected, but before he could adjust and take the shot that would end any functionality in the piece of lifeless technology a sudden dread came over him..
..first thing to start shaking was the barrel of his pistol and once he realized he couldn't even aim properly at point-blank range a coldness wrapped around his heart and lungs, expelling all oxygen from them despite him not actually releasing his breath. What was this feeling? Was this like the Eclipse at Coruscant? No it was someting..the strength in his dominant arm failed him and the pistol dropped down on the first syllable that menacingly drowned out all other thoughts...this was something worse. Darmus couldn't see ranger Coulter nor the two Sith, but he instinctively knew what was happening regardless. He looked up, at Corran, just as the younger ranger dropped his weapons in complete obedience and surrender. He didn't realize it at the time, but Darmus, too, had already let his pistol slip out of his shaking hand and fall to the cold durasteel floor.
It took a moment of stunned silence. Darmus staring blankly at Corran as the old man was overwhelmed by the coldness inside. How similar it was to the guilt he felt over the deaths of Echo Squad on Outpost Blue. How similar it was to his memories of the eager rookie who he approved to go active, only for her to die the next day. Kolto baths, injuries, pain, loss and regrets. The coldness that Darth Raze cast into the old ranger's heart was truly and utterly allconsuming. He didn't even notice the Sith lords, with Ranger Coulter as hostage, arriving at the junction.
Darmus gasped for air despite his lungs being full of it. Hyper-ventilating. Panic attack. He crawled along the wall to at least attempt to comply with the Sith Lord's demands and somehow he even managed to pull himself up against the wall. Back on two feet, but barely. He would follow Corran and get out of the Sith's way for two reasons: One, to save ranger Coulter. Two, to save himself.
..first thing to start shaking was the barrel of his pistol and once he realized he couldn't even aim properly at point-blank range a coldness wrapped around his heart and lungs, expelling all oxygen from them despite him not actually releasing his breath. What was this feeling? Was this like the Eclipse at Coruscant? No it was someting..the strength in his dominant arm failed him and the pistol dropped down on the first syllable that menacingly drowned out all other thoughts...this was something worse. Darmus couldn't see ranger Coulter nor the two Sith, but he instinctively knew what was happening regardless. He looked up, at Corran, just as the younger ranger dropped his weapons in complete obedience and surrender. He didn't realize it at the time, but Darmus, too, had already let his pistol slip out of his shaking hand and fall to the cold durasteel floor.
It took a moment of stunned silence. Darmus staring blankly at Corran as the old man was overwhelmed by the coldness inside. How similar it was to the guilt he felt over the deaths of Echo Squad on Outpost Blue. How similar it was to his memories of the eager rookie who he approved to go active, only for her to die the next day. Kolto baths, injuries, pain, loss and regrets. The coldness that Darth Raze cast into the old ranger's heart was truly and utterly allconsuming. He didn't even notice the Sith lords, with Ranger Coulter as hostage, arriving at the junction.
Darmus gasped for air despite his lungs being full of it. Hyper-ventilating. Panic attack. He crawled along the wall to at least attempt to comply with the Sith Lord's demands and somehow he even managed to pull himself up against the wall. Back on two feet, but barely. He would follow Corran and get out of the Sith's way for two reasons: One, to save ranger Coulter. Two, to save himself.