Ashton and Anna sat in the cabin of the stealth ship as it descended towards the barren, desolate planet that housed the high-security prison. The ship's pilot, who surprisingly turned out to be Kass, sat at the controls.
Anna fidgeted nervously in her seat, her hands clenched in her lap. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" she asked Ashton.
"Positive," he replied, reassuringly touching her thigh. "We've committed to shit way worse than this. Besides, Malekith has everything under control."
Kass turned to them, her red eyes glowing in the dim light of the cabin.
"We'll be landing in five minutes," she said. "I'll drop you off at the designated spot, and then I'll head back to orbit. I'll be back in six hours to pick you up."
Ashton nodded, double-checking his equipment. He wore a black tactical suit designed to be lightweight and flexible. A variety of weapons and gadgets were attached to his belt and strapped to his chest.
Anna, meanwhile, wore a similar suit, but hers was more form-fitting and had fewer attachments. Instead, she carried a small backpack filled with supplies and equipment. The ship touched down on the dusty ground, and Kass turned to them.
"Good luck," she said. "I'll see you in six hours."
Ashton and Anna nodded, and then they exited the ship, stepping out into the oppressive cold of the planet. The darkness of the night beat down on them, while the cold had no effect on Ashton. Anna had to wrap her hands around her body to find some semblance of heat.
They walked for several minutes, following the instructions Malekith had given them in their prior communication. Eventually, they came to a rocky outcropping, and Ashton tapped a few buttons on his wrist computer. A hidden door slid open, revealing a narrow passage.
"Who knew Malekith was such an expert in finding forgotten paths leading straight into the prison?" Anna commented before rushing inside.
Ashton and Anna slipped inside, the door sliding shut behind them. The passage was dimly lit, but they could see well enough to go down the tunnel.
Ashton and Anna made their way through the dark tunnel, their footsteps echoing loudly against the walls. The air was thick and musty, and they could barely see a few feet before them.
But thankfully, the place was warmer than the surface, which gave Anna some of her goofiness back.
"Hey, Ash, wanna do it?" Anna playfully winked at him before walking ahead.
Ashton shook his head but ultimately decided to play along and smacked Anna's back. "Business first; pleasure will come later."
After a few minutes, they emerged into a small room. Malekith's voice echoed through the room, coming from a speaker on the wall.
"Welcome to the prison, lads and lassies," he said. "I've thoroughly hacked into the security systems, and tonight I'll be your guide through the facility."
"Thanks, Malekith. Couldn't have done this without you." Ashton replied.
"No need to point the obvious." Malekith retorted. "Either way, it's good to see you again. You have no idea what kind of primitive place you left me in!"
"Don't worry, Kith, we'll be sure to extract you out of your misery before leaving the place," Anna commented, stripping out of her suit. "Stop watching me and get dressed already!"
"Hey, you're the one who wanted to do the deed!" Ashton retorted before quickly slipping into a prison guard's uniform.
As for Anna, she mimicked her appearance to suit one of the Warden's most prized girls. There wasn't any other disguise for her as the prison had no female guards among their ranks.
"Can we please kill the warden?" Anna signed as she donned the 'dress' liked by the Warden.
Ashton understood her anger. After all, the dress barely covered anything. One look at the dress, and it seemed wardrobe malfunction was included on the Warden's list of kinks.
"The Empire will handle him," Ashton reassured her. "For now, let's do what we are here for."
Ashton had dressed in a uniform similar to the prison guards on the planet. He had a guard's helmet on, which obscured his face, and he held Anna in his arms... through a pair of handcuffs. Anna played her role perfectly and clung to Ashton's arm like it was a stripping pole.
Thanks to Malekith, they had made it past the initial checkpoint at the entrance of the prison. Now they had to get into the Warden's office.
Under Malekith's guidance, they walked down a long hallway, the only sounds being the clanking of Ashton's boots on the metal floor and Anna's breathing.
As they approached the Warden's office, a guard stepped out in front of them, blocking their way. The guard was an alien creature, its long tentacles writhing menacingly.
"Halt!" the guard said in a deep, guttural voice. "What is your business here?"
"Malekith!" Ashton whispered under his breath.
"This is not supposed to be here," The AI replied. "He's a low-ranking grunt. Treat him like shit, and he'll be out of your way."
Ashton stepped forward, holding Anna tighter.
"I have orders to bring this atrociously dressed female to the Warden's office," he said, using his most commanding voice.
The guard hesitated for a moment, looking at Ashton and Anna suspiciously. He looked at Anna, then back at Ashton, and it seemed he was weighing his options.
"She doesn't look like a prisoner to me. What's she doing inside the prison-"
Ashton could sense the guard's indecision. He took a step forward, towering over the alien creature.
"Do you know who I am?" he asked, his voice cold and threatening.
The guard backed up a step, its tentacles writhing nervously. "No, sir," he said.
"I am a high-ranking officer in this prison," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You will let us through, or you will spend the rest of your time licking the prisoner's butts clean. Is that clear?"
The guard looked terrified now. He stepped aside, allowing Ashton and Anna to pass. Ashton gave him a final menacing look and continued towards the Warden's office.
"Have you ever thought about roleplaying?" Anna smiled, licking her lips.
"Jeez, woman! Calm the fuck down! We are on a mission, not a vacation."
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