#anyway i love squishing these guys all together and being entertained by the dynamics

[kemendin]

Played through the False Emperor flashpoint for GS stuff (I'm way behind but I can't really care that much) and now I'm having feelings again over how that all goes down in my canon:

Basically, when Malgus pulls his little coup, it's Khel who reaches out to the Republic forces - and in doing so, to Caspian - to be all 'Hey. Common enemy here, right? Let's take him down together and both sides will be minus one problem.' This is Cas' first direct contact with Khel, and he's definitely surprised by how calm and reasonable the new Emperor's Wrath seems to be. But all things considered, there doesn't seem to be a better option here, so it's agreed - they'll work together to stop Malgus.

Thus the strike team that infiltrates Malgus' station consists of Cas, Kira, Scourge, Khel, and Quinn (and maybe I'll add other characters later when and if I actually write this fic, but those are the main players here). An extremely capable, if rather tense, group of people, who are sure to get the job done, and Khel is even gracious enough to let Cas take the lead on this one.

Unfortunately, Malgus' space station is not just any old space station - it's the repurposed Emperor's fortress, where Cas, not too long ago, was imprisoned for the most horrific six months of his life. He knows this, he's really not excited about the prospect of being there again, but he ignores Kira's suggestion that he stay behind and insists on going there anyway, because he's Cas. He has to keep going, he has to push through.

Aaaand it turns out, he can't. He still doesn't remember much of what happened to him here, which is probably for the best, but one thing he does remember is the environment. The shining black walls, the searing white and scarlet lights, the hollow chill gnawing at his flesh. He makes it a few corridors into the place, maybe, but then he starts getting flashes of memories, and fear overcomes him, and he nearly has a full blown breakdown right there because he can't, he can't, he can't endure this again.

He's in no condition to continue the mission - but he can't exactly just up and leave again, either. So instead, the group splits. Kira takes Cas and finds a corner close to the hangar where they can hunker down, and from there Cas uses his slicing expertise to try and cut through some of the fortress' defences. Meanwhile, Khel takes the lead in finding Malgus with Quinn, and Scourge goes with them to serve as a guide, because even with Malgus' upgrades to the place, Scourge still knows most of the station's strengths and weaknesses better than anyone.

Nobody has a good time on this trip. Cas feels incredibly humiliated at breaking down like this, particularly in front of the Imperials, and Kira is really trying not to be 'I told you so' about asking him to stay behind, because she was here before too, she gets it, and now she just wants to make sure they all make it out alive. In the other party, Khel is still technically recovering from certain other Incidents on Ilum (Fractures in the Ice, still a WIP, sorry lol), and is just a tiny bit nervous around Scourge, given this former/current Wrath dynamic they've got going on here. Scourge, for his part, is not impressed with either his replacement or the Emperor's, and makes very little effort to hide his contempt for both Khel and Malgus - he just wants to be done with this. And Quinn is trotting along behind them just praying there isn't going to be a fight between them over their current positions, and also putting a whole lot of effort into keeping his mouth shut over the fact that Scourge is a clearly unrepentant traitor.

When it comes to actually confronting Malgus - there's a definite difference of opinions going on. Khel is actually in agreement with Malgus, to a point - he approves of change, particularly with utilising the varied attributes of aliens to strengthen the Empire, and he tries to talk Malgus down. Scourge, however, sees only a chaotic, power-grabbing pretender on the throne, and simply attacks in the middle of Khel's attempted negotiations, because he sees what Khel does not - that Malgus is never going to compromise here.

It's only during the actual fight with Malgus that Scourge gains a little respect for Khel, when he sees that Khel can fight as well as talk. They're both quite adept at reading someone else's movements, so it doesn't take them long to find a working rhythm and be able to coordinate their attacks. Quinn, of course, is used to fighting beside a Force user, and weaves himself in there with his usual competence. It's not an easy fight, but per canon flashpoint etc they manage to defeat Malgus and then hotfoot it out of there, while Cas and Kira make their escape separately.

I think on the way back to Ilum there is a definite moment of danger between Scourge and Khel/Quinn; Scourge is still a traitor, after all, and Khel knows that the Dark Council would just love to get their hands on him. But Khel isn't the type to turn on an ally, however temporary - and besides that, after fighting alongside Scourge, he's not stupid enough to try and take the other Sith by force. So Scourge is returned to his Jedi friends - much to Cas' relief - and the two groups go their separate ways, until the next time their player decides to mash them together.