Gravity

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

He really shouldn't have said that.

That only seemed to enrage Lucy more, namely because after months on being on this ship she’d been hoping he'd noticed her. Now he was giving her the sort of friendzoned spin he’d done to others.

So it was to no surprise that she would give a lift of her chin, eyes flashing sapphire fire and bluntly asked,” Then who is she??!”

By now it wasn't just Kaile standing there watching the commotion. There were another few officers from the mess eyeballing the scene with the interest of folk with little to no entertainment for month’s end. This was pure Aurodium holo- drama gossip.

“Is that Janes?” Kaile heard ask behind her.

“Yeah… And Cheville.”

“Oh this is going to be good. Knew she was making eyes at him.”

“You should have been here a month ago,” the other junior officer from the Bridge said.

“Oh yeah, got punched by Jis’do Sar from Engineering. Word has it that …”

Kaile didn't even hear the rest, she started to feel as if the entire corridor was getting smaller.

Her eyes were wide, face a little pale.

There is someone else. I'm not lying.

 

[Asmus Janes]

For a long time after this day Asmus would wish that he hadn't spotted Kaile at that exact moment. He would wish that Lucy hadn't asked that exact question. And even more, he would pray to whatever deities their might be that he could go back and not have a crowd.

Mouth open as if to answer the question, his head turned and eyes locked onto Kaile.

“Maybe we should go talk about this somewhere out…”

But Lucy had turned to follow his gaze. Given her observations on the galley, there was a chance the situation was about to go even further south.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

For someone who wanted to keep a low profile and just simply avoid Asmus and the troubles that were percolating in her mind, this by far was the worst case scenario. They now had a good crowd standing in a half circle, a few enlisted personnel poking their heads out, murmuring low at the drama unfolding. For people who had little entertainment value, this was grand. Especially if it dealt with Captain Asmus Janes, the Hero of the Republic.

Cheville was pretty spot on figuring out just where Asmus' gaze swung to. Like a kathhound on the hunt, she locked onto Janes' blanched expression and sudden desire to leave the premises. When had he ever really cared about a scene he made? He would typically just laugh it off, make a joke, and continue one. Asmus Janes had no shame.

All of a sudden he wanted to talk about this somewhere else??

Insulted, hurt, and a little pissed, the junior officer caught the line of sight the quickly panicking Captain had swung his attention to. There were three people there. Two of them she knew, the other was the pasty faced intel ---

Oh, you could practically feel the cogs turn and suddenly click.

New girl. Intel. Had been a passenger on that extraction mission. How Janes had suddenly darted off the shuttle instead of bragging about how he'd escaped. His absent mindedness and how he suddenly tucked tail and ran from the mess.

Her. It had to be her.

ORRRRRR -- was Asmus merely using her as an excuse and he was still lying?

Time to find out.

Lucy gave a curt nod, then took a step back. "Okay. Fine. Let's narrow it down then!" Asmus would be able to see very quickly that Lucy was about to turn and head straight for Kaile.

 

[Asmus Janes]

"What are you going to do? Go and read the ship's mani..."

He managed to keep the outright fear from appearing on his face until she'd turned about and started walking for Kaile. Kaile and the small crowd that had gathered.

He looked to the agent, those green eyes framed in a look of helpless panic. Would she see a way to diffuse this?

"Lucy?" his tone was quiet, but carried across the space between them. Calm, questioning, but firm. It was intended to do just one thing: grab her attention so he could make one more attempt to calm her down.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


One didn’t have to be a Lorrdian to understand Asmus’ and Lucy’s body language. Asmus was panicking while Lucy was determined to get a few answers of her own; be it to call Asmus’ bluff or actually see if his story had any fraction of truth to it.

Those that knew Asmus were well aware of his flights of fancy when it came to just having a good time. A few times here and there when he’d drunk the bottle more than enough times, the story of ‘the one that got away’ came up. Most were unsure if there was ever really any merit to it; being that the scoundrel pilot was quick to proposition someone else with that rakish smile. How much truth to the story was always up in the air, but if Lucy had her way, she was about to go digging to find out.

Kaile couldn’t believe this was happening. The panic that Asmus felt was also starting to catch. Oh stars, this could not be happening right now, she thought to herself in ever-growing panic. The crowd watching everything unfold were confused to as to why Lucy was suddenly walking towards them. Was she going somewhere? Was she really going to check the manifest???

For once, Asmus’ tone did not hold its typical humor or goodwill. Instead, it was calm, focused, and firm. That was the only thing that saved Asmus from Lucy continuing straight to Kaile and asking her if she had anything to do with the Captain’s story.

“What?” Lucy replied. “I can’t make inquiries? “ she turned back to Asmus. “It is pretty easy to narrow down. Just talk to the few who haven’t had Captain Janes scurry off from their cabin early in the morning.” full redhead. Lucy was hurt and she wanted lash out at Asmus. After so many months and he gives her this excuse?

“Or maybe there really isn’t a girl?”

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"I'm so sorry Lucy," Asmus said in a low voice. He said it quietly, hoping that Lucy would come nearer to hear him, perhaps even lower her own tone.

Please Kaile, just turn and go! he was thinking so loudly. Perhaps, unintentionally, strongly enough that the Force Sensitive would pick up. He would have tried to convey as much with eye contact, but dared not risk it again.

He tried to think quickly. What could he do? There were so many people watching and his nerves were already frayed. Truth be told he didn't like airing things out in public. He'd taken the hit on the break up with Jis'do purely because he hadn't wanted to go gossiping about the real reason for the break up, which was...personal.

"You deserve better from me, but don't believe everything people say about me. Come on, please, we'll go get a caf and talk?"

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

By now, the need to step away was rather strongly pressing on the Lorrdian. The small glances barely shot at her direction by a worried Asmus could be considered by others as someone nervous about the crowd forming, but Kaile knew they had been directed to her.

Swallowing hard, she took a step back, intending to turn away. Flee. Whatever this Lucy had with Asmus, well...it was clear that the Junior Flight Officer was hurt. Moving past a comm officer from the bridge, she went slipping towards the rear of the crowd. All the while, the small bits of Asmus' explanation to Lucy kept resonating in her mind.

Maybe it was the soft way Asmus was talking to Cheville, but it seemed to be working. The gusto she displayed earlier was beginning to fade, and in its place the hurt she felt displayed in her quickly growing red rimmed eyes. Asmus would be able to see a bit of himself there then; the confusion, the hope, the simple longing of wanting to be with someone... only to have them push you away with what seemed to be half hearted explanations most thought Asmus had only made up.

"..I just..." she began, and a few of the members of the crowd gave a collective groan. Just when it was going to get good too!. A few also joined Kaile in dispersing. Last thing they needed was one of the Senior Officers yelling at them to stop gawking like picking Nunas and get back to work.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Asmus gave a slow nod of his head. Stepping closer and turning side on the put an arm across her shoulders. If she would let him. The mess was busy right now and he wasn't about to take her back to his cabin.

"Thunderstruck is down in maintenance bay four. If you'd like we can go there and talk out of the way of people. I promise, no lies, no stories."

Asmus managed to keep a streak of annoyance from his tone and expression. He really, really didn't need this right now. Kaile would have scarpered now. What would she even assume had happened? She likely hadn't seen the start. Oh feth, would she assume they were a couple and he was breaking up?

His pulse raced as he considered the possibilities. Lucy now, Kaile later. Needed to diffuse this.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile didn’t look back. She couldn’t. Hair gave a sharp sway with every quick step she could, her head slightly down so as to avoid seeing anyone in the eyes.

What was all that??! There was a tightness to her chest. As if someone had gone reaching into it and just curled their fingers around her lungs. Before she knew it, she was breathing fast. A little paler and a lot more anxious. Adrenaline hit. It was as if her body had been producing all those chemicals and then finally decided to crash as soon as she got herself out from the thick of it.

What if she stayed behind, then what? Who was Lucy? The consideration on just what could be going on there left a bad taste in her mouth. Jealousy was a terrible emotion to feel. Especially for the young Lorrdian who never truly ever had experienced before. Oh it had come and gone throughout the years when Kaile had checked up on Asmus, but seeing from a distance and being physically there made all the difference.

It was stupid to feel jealous. Idiotic of her. Whatever and whomever Asmus was with, what he did and who he didn’t with wasn’t her concern. Wasn’t supposed to matter. Four days and she left. She had been the one to leave. To not contact him. To make the hard decision that she had to stay away so he could live his life.

So it only made her all the more confused to hear about how he’d spoken about her… At least, that had to be about me right?

Stars, this was an absolute mess!

“--era!” a voice called out to her, but Kaile was too enthralled in her thoughts.

“Vera!” at the curt tone, Kaile gave a start. Snapping her head up, wide eyes caught sight of the Intelligence Captain.

“Oh, sorry Captain… didn’t hear you.”

Which was hilarious as the man’s voice was quite disguisable. Black eyes peered down at the younger woman with the growing scowl of a man trying to figure out what was going on with his subordinate.

“Doc said you should be fine, but I’m not sure how much I believe that.” This wasn’t like Vera. She had her moments, but she could focus when required.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Red-rimmed eyes looked back up at him as he passed over the mug of hot caf. Asmus then grabbed a tool box and slid it over to perch on. Once again, he was left not knowing what to say.

“I didn't lie to Jis’do, but I broke up with him because he was selfish and well frankly quite aggressive,” Asmus’ facial expression made clear where he was going. “No one needs to know that. The girl who got away is entirely real Lucy. But I'm…” he moved his hand back and forth between them. “...it's complicated and I can't tell what's wrong.

“I'm so sorry,” he said, looking down at his feet and back up at her. A slender hand came up to brush dark hair from his face. “You're great, it's just I don't feel that way back. I like having you around here, I don't want us to be fighting or avoiding each other.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile gave a few blinks. Oh, right. Her concussion. The slight frown over her face dissipated, and she gave a small nod.

“Aye.” she began, her fingers crinkling the brown bag and curling around the tin of biscuits she had in a knuckle white grip.

“Have some meds that they gave me.” she brought up the brown bag, “Was told to make sure I’ve a full belly to take them.” as if that would explain her absentmindedness, Kaile added, “Reckon I head off to my cabin and eat then take the first set. Rest a bit longer.”

The way the Captain was studying her was making the espion shift a bit on her feet. She gave a weak smile.

“I’m fine Captain… I’ll just do what the doc said and rest.” Kaile could read that he wasn’t quite sure as if that was it, but he didn’t press it thankfully.

“Good. I can’t have you and Vo out of commission. “ He gave a heavy pat to her shoulder, moving past. Her small sigh of relief thankfully unheard as he headed to the bridge.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Lucy was slow to respond. The very raw anger had subsided to a degree. She wished she had it back. Would have made it much easier to look up and meet his gaze if the fire had still been burning. But meet them she did. Fethdamnit why did he have to have such green eyes and long lashes.

How many people had watched that display? Ten, twenty? Enough of the crew that word would spread. Nothing she couldn't handle she supposed. She'd said worse to pilots before, but regarding the way they treated their ships, or spoke to her.

“Still hurt,” she said, sounding entirely too petulant. She swore under her breath. Had to be that operative. A thought struck her. If that was who he pined for, then he had no chance. She'd be a ghost, vanished again in a few weeks. And where would she be? Here, on the same flight deck that Asmus was on every day. Lucy wasn't giving up on this yet, but what was she supposed to say now?

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


Getting to her cabin wasn’t quick enough for Kaile. By the time she made it inside, the door barely slid shut behind her before the brunette went sliding down the door again. Door to her back and butt to the ground, her knees drew up as she tucked them close to her chest. The tin was set on the floor beside her, along with her ever cooling brownbag with her omlette and snacks -- although truth be told, her appetite had left her.

A heavy groan came from Kaile, her tremblings hands coming up to rub her face. In her mind she went through all that had occurred in the past twenty four hours. Regardless of what came, all that would bloom in her mind was the image of Asmus’ face standing right here in her cabin. Asking her if it had been so easy to forget. So easy never contact him at all.

Lips would tremble as Kaile’s eyes began to sting again. Damnit, she was acting like a silly fool. Maybe the nurse had some measure of truth in her assessment. Maybe she was feeling anxiety. It sure felt as if everything was just tumbling around out of control. Parts of her warred with the other; one side wanting to rush over and throw her arms around Asmus while the other said no. That she couldn’t. That she had no right and it was just a mistake.
It was the same battle the Lorrdian had fought bitterly for years. One that escalated to a sensation of numbness on the day everything came crashing apart.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“So it's the agent you picked up?” she tried. Lucy could see it in his eyes before he replied.

“Please don't tell anyone?”

“Fine, I won't. I was probably a little…forthright. You can't blame me for that?” she watch him carefully as she brought up one sleeve to wipe her eyes. She started to wonder what would have happened if she'd plucked up the confidence a few days ago. That was a little painful to consider.

“No, no, best to be honest and open about these things,” Asmus replied. Damnit, why did he have to be nice? Why couldn't he be all anger and fire and passion…

“I, yeah I still want us to get along. I like talking to you. You know you still can right?” Especially after she turns you down. You can come and talk to me then…

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile wasn’t sure how long she sat there on the floor. By the time she let her attention drift to the brown bag, her omelet was cold. Her lips felt dry. A swipe of her tongue would provide moisture, but it didn’t help matters when she began to nibble on her lower lip again.

A small glint of silver caught her attention from the light. It was Asmus’ biscutt tin that he had left at her beside. The sticky note of filmsi was there. Along with his foolishly neat writing.

That actually made her laugh, the sound sharp within the silence of her cabin. Carefully, she lent forward, curling her fingers around the small tin. They weren’t anything really special really. Just chocolate coated biscuits, the sort that were not even that great tasting.

Her shoulders shook, and Kaile gave a sigh. Bringing the tin up, the tip of her finger lightly went sliding along the edge of the sheet of filmsi.

“Sorry.” Kaile read aloud. A simple message, really.
But there was so much more to it than just that.

 

[Asmus Janes]

The business with Lucy had put a significant dent in his time for the day. They'd talked for a good long time, then got to get an afternoon snack with the rest of the deck crew. Her boss had had a quiet word with Asmus to find out if the rumours of a barny outside the mess were true and they'd talked it over. She was remarkably protective of her team. As he'd left he'd seen Lucy getting a little interrogation as well, though there was a hand on her shoulder.

It took up so much time that there was none left to catch Rodeck before his shift was over. No chance to plan a distraction for the Captain and his intelligence officer. Instead Asmus found himself in a small room. A small room with a number of view screens mounted to the walls.

“I think it was…oh hell I don't even remember walking to it. As I left…three doors on the right before the turbolifts.”

The ithorian techie replied in his own language, a small translator on his neck repeated in basic. “Room B12, let's check the feed outside.”

Pheple had always been a good friend. He waved to one of the monitors that showed the corridor outside at high speed.

“Stop!”

There was Kaile with a paper bag and his biscuit tin.

“That's B11. Alright, let me patch you into the rooms holo terminal. I have give you text only, anything else would breach security.”

“You're a star!” Asmus remarked with a hearty slap on the back.

Soon the unclassified terminal in Kaile's room would beep.

Sorry about the mess outside…the mess. Can't get onto Deck B right now, which I'm sure you know. Want to come meet somewhere quiet to talk?

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

A small beep at her holo terminal caught Kaile’s attention. Typically, there were few people who would message her. The majority dealt with missions or updates. A few with some of her contacts throughout the ‘verse who were connected to various slicers and information brokers.

A small frown, and Kaile set the tin of biscuits down. Slowly she pushed herself to her feet. Fingers ran through her hair, inky black bangs pushed to the side. Coming up to her holo-terrminal, Kaile gave a small tap of the screen. Her face and torso was suddenly shrouded in a pale cerulean hue.

It was a text message.

The dark brows slid forward, and she gave a tap. The message that came up made her eyes widen in surprise. Fingers pressed against the desk where the holo terminal sat at. Honestly, Kaile didn’t know what to say. What to do.

What to even reply with.

Meanwhile, Pheple double checked then gave a nod.

“There you go.” a pause as those wide eyes would peer curiously at Asmus. He was a good friend, one of the reasons he was willing to help him in this. It was just curious to see him so nervous. Anxious. A part of him didn’t want to be rude and ask. But another was interested in what could have caused the pilot to be so strung out?
Why the Intelligence Agent?

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus’ foot started nervously tapping on the deck. The ithorian gave him a long stare until he stopped.

“You think she got it?”

Like a set of bagpipes slowly deflating, Pheple laughed as only an ithorian could.

“You think I should send another…”

“No.”

“But maybe she's tired or had it on mute and…”

“The message has been read. Everything takes time and patience to cultivate Asmus. Just wait.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


Honestly, Kaile likely shouldn’t have done it. It was a risk. A risk that she shouldn’t take. However, the Lorrdian was curious how Asmus managed to get access to this terminal. What strings did he pull?

Slicing into a holo terminal to track the origin point of the comm message is easy. Kaile had the tools and the knowledge to do so if she really wanted to. But if she wanted answers fast, then she simply had to use the Force.

A bit of a cheat, but at the very least, she could turn this around.

Taking a deep breath, the espion set both hands on top of the holo terminal. Closing her eyes, she breathed in the Force. The years away from Asmus had seen the espion use the Force more and more due to her missions, in large part due to the fact that she couldn’t risk taking Bobo with her. After the tragedy, Kaile simply wanted to keep herself busy. To bury the past. That brought with it more and more assignments into enemy territory.

It also expanded on her knowledge in the Force when it came to computers and electronics.

Unlike with slicing, using the Force to control and manipulate pathways meant Kaile could do this faster and more inconspicuous than what Asmus and his friend were doing. Within a minute, there was a slight static blip that ran across Pheple’s main screen.

Then they all flickered black and white; one by one the holographic screens taken over by a whitewash of static. Until finally, they gave one more shudder. Kaile’s eyes snapped open and her holo-camera came to life.

Every one of those screens turned black only to suddenly reveal Kaile’s face.

[ Lieutenant Pheples’.] the speakers resonated within the many security feeds around the tiny room where the two stunned men sat in.

[ Why are you accessing my quarters? ]

She didn’t acknowledge Asmus. Not yet. If Asmus ever wanted to get a taste of just what Kaile was able to do, a picture of just how much he didn’t know Kaile -- this was it.
Perhaps that was why Kaile was doing this now.

 

[Asmus Janes]

A small chuckle resounded around the small room. Asmus was laughing.

“How'd she even managed that so quickly?”

Pheple turned and offered the Ithorian equivalent of a shrug. “I'm no slicer, I just keep this kark cabled up for twenty grand a year. I didn't initiate a breach but I still don't want to get fired Asmus.”

Asmus laid the data pad he'd been messaging from back the the table. He peered curiously into the twin lenses of the holo-camera.

“I didn't realise you had this much of a penchant for the dramatic. You know why he did it. So…biscuits and caf?”