(Actually, 'clear the stairs' was my plan, but I have something more dramatic in mind. I'm assuming that firing while running up stairs is bad where accuracy is concerned.)
As Andro nears the top of the stairs he yells to Zaland, "Zaland, down!"
He then leapes directly down the stairway to tackle Kathya as she rushes upwards.
(I will use Fall if I can to prevent some damage. Hopefully it's not an obvious power usage, but I will tackle her and take her with me down the stairs. Gallagher, whatever happens, run! You aren't safe here.)
That sounds reasonable!
Andro, dashing like hell with Varm in pursuit, leaps to the stairs, vaults the rail and dives down into Kathya.
She's tougher than she looks- you can tell immediately as she meets you head on, but you have too much momentum for het not to be bowled over. The two of you roll, quite expertly, down the stairs.
Before you know it, Varm and Zaland are tusseling at close range up above as well. Andro and Kathya are getting up just as Gallagher reaches the stairs...
... and at the same point when Doctor Mirana and the Abbot round the corner, the Abbot walking unsteadily, but in conversation.
"There does rather seem to be a certain amount of confusion... oh look, here they are now."
Kathya has hidden her gun behind her as she stands. Both Zaland and Varm also quickly hide their weapons and try to make out as if they were just strolling down the stairs together, not trying to kill each other.
(Now that's more like it! Of course, now we're in another tricky situation. I'll wait for Gallagher to catch up, and let him do the talking, Andro doesn't want to stick his foot in his mouth. I think it would be more appropriate for the situation anyhow.)
Andro stands up, trying to act casual as he sees the Doctor and the Abbot come into view. He's not sure how Gallagher has fared with them, so he doesn't jump into the truth of the situation. He looks to his 'boss' to lead off. That, and he casually moves into position to intercept Kathya should she try to make any aggressive moves.
(Gallagher, there is a distinct possibility that the only one here 'on our side' is the Abbot, and he's not going to be helpful here. We need to tread carefully. Having said that, Andro isn't the most tactful when he's gotten the bad end of a good fight.)
Andro crosses his arms and fixes Kathya with an unpleasant stare as he speaks to the group.
"I just found the body of Galactic businessman Deel Twain in the dresser of a room 'Father' Varm has recently been seen occupying. We were just 'discussing' that discovery when we were interrupted by Kathya here, just before you arrived."
(For what it's worth, I'll Scan Dr. Mirani as I speak.)
No, Andro was not directly shot, so they are not.
"Weapons?" says Mirani, worried.
"Body?" says the Abbot. "Of Deel Twain? Varm, what in the name of the Force can this man possibly mean?"
"Ok, ok, everyone slow down here," says Mirani. "Could someone please outline to me exactly what it is that has been going on? That is a very serious allegation you just made against very important people," he says, looking at Andro. "Now, this had better not be some kind of joke."
Mirani is worried about something.
The Abbot looks at you both, curiously. And for a moment, you get a glimpse of his face behind the hood- and recolil in horror. You couldn't see it properly, but it is clear that it has been mostly eaten away. You had a momentary glimpse of teeth and gum, but almost no sign of skin. His condition is very advanced.
-
"Go on," says Anaz.
"You'll find there is much that the Venerable Z'Har knows," says Anaz.
Yet Anaz didn't ask you about this earlier. They've been talking.
-
"How many times?" says Kathya. "We carry no weapons!" She is calm-minded, hard to read. Varm is STILL thinking about killing you all. The Doctor is worried about a personal relationship- Empathy may help you more. The Abbot seems rather bemused.
"Ho-hooo, what's all this here?" comes a voice from down the corridor. "Stratagems, treaons, spoils and conspiracies, no doubt? What's the secret behind this meeting, then? I am simply itching for the details!"
As Deel Twain bounds happily down the corridor towards you, both of you swear that you could actually hear the sound of several pairs of eyes swinging around to look at Andro.
(This was the bad feeling, Gallagher. You have to learn to trust your instincts when they are telling you to stop! They are very acute, after all.)
Andro tries to recover from his shock at seeing the Abbot's condition as smoothly as possible. He began to speak with an even, patient tone.
"Ok, I'll lay it out for you. I was in Varm's quarters. I opened his dresser to discover the body of Deel Twain. Varm discovered me, and saw that I had uncovered his secret, so he started shooting after throwing a gas cannister into the room. Lucky for me Varm is a terrible shot against humans, but pretty good against windows. I was able to climb out onto the ledge to avoid the gas. My mentor, Zaland, showed up shortly to distract Varm so I could get back in. Then Kathya shows up and, asking no questions whatsoever, starts shooting at Zaland and I. So I jumped down the stairs and tackled her." This was all said very simply, as if explaining how any other day went. Then his tone grew more agitated.
"This can all be proven very easily. We can just go up there right now, and look at the empty canister, the blaster marks in the walls, the broken windows, and the BODY OF DEEL TWAIN!"