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h4.Stranded With The Enemy 9

Lilith took the injured Pete back to their cave and tended to his injuries. Lilith put his broken leg in a makeshift splint, using Pete's neckerchief to wrap it as she had little else to work with.
As Lilith took care of his leg, to help distract himself from the pain, Pete reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo of his family that he always kept with him. He showed the photo to Lilith, explaining to her that his family was the entire reason he had joined the Cornerian army, because he wanted to protect the people he loved most from harm, and that his desire to see them again was what kept him going despite their current seemingly hopeless situation.
He then asked Lilith if she had any family, but she shook her head and told him no. She explained that she had become an orphan at a young age, and wound up living on the streets. She grew up learning to survive through crime, eventually getting involved with gangs. She ended up getting caught and sent to a correctional facility, and when she got out she tried to pursue honest work, but no one would hire her due to her past and her appearance. Because of that, she quickly fell back into crime in order to survive. Then one day Andross sent out the call for troops to join his army, promising that all who aided him in conquering the Lylat system would never want for anything again. Lilith didn't know if Andross actually intended to keep that promise, but given her limited options, and her anger towards the current establishment, who she blamed for her terrible life, she decided joining Andross was her best hope to finally obtain a life of wealth and comfort.
Pete was silent as he processed everything he had just heard. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the monkey who he had once seen as an evil, bloodthirsty enemy. It made him wonder... just how many of Andross' troops wouldn't have even joined him at all if someone had just shown them some compassion at some point during their lives.

Pete Shepherd and Lilith Macaco are my own original characters and are owned by me (EmperorStarscream).