Gravity

[Asmus Janes]

“Sure,” Asmus replied. He gave half a shrug. “I generally go and check on people when I'm in a medevac. That's… well that's why I ended up down in the med bay.”. His right arm was across his chest, rubbing at his left shoulder.

He opened and closed his mouth. He couldn't remember a time when he'd felt awkward in recent months. He genuinely wasn't sure whether to say goodbye, follow her and talk on the way or do something foolish.

This was work. There had to be a clear line between personal and professional. Even if it was a fuzzy one.

“I'll go finish my reports then, catch you after lunch. Another thrilling Vo lecture. I sometimes wish I hadn't visited all corners of the galaxy so I didn't have restrictions on my vetting.”

He laughed, considering all the adventures on the Quin. “Not often though.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

“The nurse mentioned you did.” Kaile managed to say as she rocked on her heels. The nurse also had plenty to say about the Wraith’s extracurricular activities as well. The image of the redheaded Lucy along with the nurse’s friend came to mind. Along with the altercation in front of the mess a day ago.

She gave a slight roll of her shoulder and then another nod, already taking the cues of taking a few steps back and heading towards the door first. This was different than the Quin. Than back in the observation room. On the clock and with responsibilities.

“He isn't that bad.” She added, turning towards the exit with her files in hand. “Vo, that is.”
All she had to do was round the table and take the last few meters to the hatch. Of course, it didn't help when she could feel Asmus gaze follow her though all of it.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus decided to step in beside her. “Actually I quite like Vo. Fastidious. Good word that. Doesn't let his personal opinions get in the way. Like the Captain. And… me at times I suppose,” he added begrudgingly. He couldn't lie and pretend that his own behaviour wasn't just as much to blame for the pair of them being at loggerheads so much of the time.

He moved towards the door, but paused. His hand rested lightly on the handle and he turned back towards her. “This is… strange. New and confusing. Also a little bit amazing. We can do it though,” he added with a firm nod. He rarely saw a problem and assumed the challenge was insurmountable. He could feel it radiating off Kaile; she was still struggling to come to terms with the situation.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

What was she supposed to say when he said something like that? Close as he was, Kaile could read every one of those emotions running through his eyes. He was to the right of it. It was strange -- all strange and new and confusing.

Her lids fell, and she gave a slight rock of her heels. “Yeah, I'm sure we will.” She said although one might wonder what she meant by it. One haphazard hand came up to brush her bangs away from her eyes. It was something to keep her hands busy.

“Umm…” A glance back up to the door and then back at the pilot. He was blocking the exit after all.

“The door….”

 

[Asmus Janes]

Well, it was better than being pushed through it. She didn’t sound so certain herself. Asmus smiled, pulled down the handle with a loud clunk and stepped aside.

“After you.”

What he would have given to be inside Kaile’s head, to understand what was going on. He was almost watching her through old, distorted stained glass. It was a view of her, but much was kept out of sight. Occasionally he caught true glimpses. Back on the Quintessence she had started to open up to him, but he was fairly certain that had started to scare her. Whatever had happened back then before the trip to Denon had stayed with her.

Time. They just needed time.

And probably not to watch the way her hips swayed as she walked past him, but it was too late for that now.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

“Thank you,” Kaile replied, moving ahead. It did feel strange, and it didn't help how her stomach seemed to flip flop at the mere sight of his smile.

Maybe she walked a bit too fast, but Kaile was trying to focus on other matters. Having Asmus in the back of her mind and floating forward during a time where she was supposed to concentrate on the upcoming mission was not conducive to trying to maintain a professional demeanor.

Her stomachs decided to give a growl then. Okay, maybe she'll be able to think a bit more clearly after eating. First, she'll need to drop off these files in her room and then she could go down to the officers' mess to grab a quick meal.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus took a more direct route to the mess. He went past the officer's working area. Chad, Omar and Delaney had joined Wilson at the desks and they all joined him.

He was tucking into an almost edible seafood starter when Kaile appeared. They had just been musing about going on a joint fishing trip when they had a chance to take some leave together. Asmus didn't think. His eyes lingered too long. Chad followed his gaze.

Chad had been thinking.

Perhaps it was because he hadn't slept well, or maybe he had more feelings for a certain redhead than he'd realised, but Chad was brutally blunt.

“So is it that Kaile?”

Silence fell across the table. Asmus froze.

“No,” he said too late. “But you did at least find the reason for deck B detours.” Asmus tried to laugh.

 

[Kaile Vera]

The chortle of laughter went around the table, the tensioned eased by Asmus’ quick denial. They were all willing to take the Squadron leader’s denial at face value, but the tiny delay in Asmus’ answering the question lingered in the back of Chad’s mind.

On the other hand, Omar was grinning from ear to ear. Unlike Asmus, he let his appreciative gaze wander over the female agent as she came to a stop in front of the hot plate line.

“So her name is Kaile?” he sang, the interested glimmer in his eyes. “Nice name. I was wondering what it was.” the Zeltron’s eyebrows rose, “Legs as long as those I can understand the interest.”

“Say Janes, how about you properly introduce her to me?” with a ship as small as this, getting fresh faces was an event in and of itself. Being interested in the same bit of fun wasn’t new for any, and Omar was willing to pursue it if given a chance.

 

[Asmus Janes]

The young squadron leader didn't know where the two of them stood. There was something between them, something strong. Within minutes of meeting her willpower had faltered and she'd kissed him. Within hours they'd fallen asleep in a naked tangle of limbs. He didn't feel the way he felt about her with anyone else. There was a possessiveness. Not in an overbearing way, but he felt they belonged to each other in some manner. He'd once called her his, even if he had no right to, as they'd started to make love for the first time.

There was a flash of annoyance, not amusement, as he looked up at Omar. The notion of him setting her off with those pheromones of his made him feel queasy.

“Let's not all go staring at her eh?” Asmus replied curtly.

Ovmar was a little bemused by this, but Chad had drawn a line under his conclusions.

“No,” he said plainly.

“What?” Asmus replied, looking to his wingman.

“No!” Chad replied with a chortle. “You don't get to pull the responsible SL card to throw us off. It was just a few months ago you sat there gawping at that marine with the huge arms and suggested a contest with Omar.”

“We both won that one,” Omar interjected, thinking back fondly.

“Just admit that that Kaile is the one you mope about when you drink too much whiskey.”

Asmus sat there, dumbfounded by Chad's blunt accusation.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

What was going on over there? It took all the training she had to not completely swivel her head over to see what they were doing or attempt to read their lips to determine what they were talking about. Well, to a degree that is. From her peripheral the espion was able to discern that they were paying attention to her. Even without looking she could sense them following her with their eyes.

Just as she collected a platter of Rodian Spaghetti and meatballs, she caught the sound of laughter coming from their table. Don’t look, don’t look, she told herself, keeping her eyes locked forward as she slid her tray over towards the salad bar. A cup of muja berry jello and a glass of lemonade completed her meal. All the while twin spots of pink managed to bloom over her cheeks, unable to help herself. This was so silly, Kaile told herself. She spent years as a Yum Bunny waitress, able to walk right up and just have a nice little chat with whomever she pleased.

Yet when faced with having to talk to Asmus she felt as if her knees were of the same consistency as the jello in her cup.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus looked down at his bowl and dropped his cutlery back into it.

“Told you he was acting off,” Chad said triumphantly.

“I wouldn't have figured that was why, but I was surprised Lucy didn't even get a sympathy shag,” Wilson replied. Chad glowered.

Omar raised one eyebrow. Wait, as this whiskey girl?. “So… off limits?”

Chad gave him a look. Asmus was trying to plot a course now. What was he supposed to say now? More importantly how didn't he prevent them from getting in the way, or from spreading to work and it reaching her.

“So how is it going?” Chad asked, his tone very different. Intrigued, almost sympathetic.

“Odd,” Asmus replied plainly. “Hot and cold. I didn't know she did this, but that must be why she broke off. It's like she's scared of me getting close again.”

“Would make sense,” Chad reasoned. “Some of the people in that line of work have remarkably normal family lives. Remember Dentoss and the photos of his kids?”

“So many photos…” Omar said with a shake of his head.

“But others like to keep their distance.”

“It's all just confusing,” Asmus admitted. Actually it was quite nice to have a tight group of friends he could talk to. Speaking didn't make anything more clear, but it did make him feel better. “Now, are you going to admit that your interest in Lucy goes beyond watching her bent over a weights bench?”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


Now came the choice to either eat at the mess or go to her room. Well, maybe not so much considering the Lorrdian selected a tray instead of a take home box. With a sigh Kaile renounced herself to trying to not make a fool of herself and simply sitting down at an empty table.

It wasn’t too busy of a time at the mess. There were plenty of tables available. One in particular was empty -- and about four tables down from where the Wraith pilots were congregating at.

Right.

Kaile set her tray down, slipping into her booth chair to start eating her meal. A few more eyes followed her, the espion unaware of the revelation that he’d given to his subordinates. Feeling their gaze on her, Kaile brought out her datapad so as to pretend she was reading memos on the display. Yet at the corner of her eye, she would occasionally peer out to see what they were doing.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Whilst Chad and Asmus faced off, Wilson was back briefing Omar. He was describing the way Asmus would lament for a Kaile who he had completely fallen for, before she left and never contacted him again.

“I… will admit more than a passing interest.”

“Sorry,” Asmus replied. “I didn't mean for that all to spill over so much.”

“It's fine.” It clearly wasn't. “Think I should talk to her?”

Asmus pulled an odd expression. He could never quite understand people who didn't just say what they wanted to. Why keep such a thing to yourself instead of just being honest and seeing if it was reciprocated.

“Yes, obviously.”

“Think she'll think I'm just trying to take advantage though?”

Asmus shrugged. “Just be honest. I'll talk to her later if you want, but I've got a briefing soon.”

“Alright, so definitely off limits. But you owe me Asmus,” Omar interrupted.

Asmus looked at him incredulously. “How do I owe you?”

“Those legs and I can't even go and introduce myself?”

“I can't owe you, she's not a thing to be traded for feth’s sake!” Asmus laughed. He'd have been annoyed if he'd thought Omar was being serious.

“Come on man, do you know what it's like being a Zeltron on such a small isolated ship for so long?”

“There are, like, a hundred souls aboard!” Asmus replied.

“Or in Zeltron terms: a light mid morning orgy,” Wilson chimed in. There was laughter at Omar’s expense. Asmus was well aware what the Zeltron was like. It wasn't as if they'd ignored each other when they'd both managed to catch the same marine.

There was silence after that. Until Wilson shook his head and laughed softly: “I can't believe she's real.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


What were they talking about? Now her curiosity was starting to eat at her. With a sly glance up, chocolate brown eyes went scanning over the far table where the Wraith pilots sat. There was the faintest glimmer of blue that shimmered in her eyes, a quick whir of the cybernetic contacts that went zooming in for a closer inspection. Facial recognition scans brought up files, names, and ranks.

Chad, Wilson, Owen, and Delaney. The first matched the pilot whom Asmus mentioned would be back up to their mission. Deactivating the scan, the espion lowered her lids back down to study her datapad again. A fork idly went passing through her spaghetti, twisting enough for a mouthful of the sauce saturated noodles.

They were too far away for her to listen in, but it piqued her interest. There were glances her way now and then. Had Asmus mentioned anything? A nibble of her lower lip ensued, mind already going through the many variations of just what they could be talking about.

With a sigh, Kaile gave a few more taps over the tablet's display. She was doing nothing but driving herself crazy, and that would do no one any good.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Sorry if I've been a little off sorts,” Asmus said.

“Galaxy is such a big place. First time in years was the pick up? Would have been great to see your faces,” Wilson laughed.

“Yeah, yeah. Look I'll let you all know how it goes but keep quiet about this right. Not a word.”

“Not a word,” Wilson agreed.

“Wait, so is Lucy off limits too now?” Omar asked.

Asmus groaned. “Fun as this has been, I have a dreadfully dire briefing from Vo to listen to. I'll catch you all in the morning for some analysis. We're going to review the Battle of Coruscant and look at the performance of the Alliance pilots compared to the Republic a few years previous.”

Asmus stood and headed away from the table. He tried to catch Kaile's eye on the way out of the mess.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

They managed to catch each other’s eyes as Asmus strode past. Kaile managed a faint smile, along with a subtle wiggle of her fingers in hello. Certainly something more than the typical aloof nature the espion seemed to vacillate back and forth with when it came to the Wraith.

Seemed it wasn’t only Kaile that was watching Asmus leave the mess. It was at that moment that Lucy had meandered her way into the mess itself. The fiery redhead came ambling slowly in front of him, giving him the faintest of smiles. It wasn’t easy, having heard what Asmus had told her earlier. Didn’t matter what he said actually, even if it had hurt. She still couldn’t help the way her heart seemed to skip a beat whenever the Wraith was near.

In her mind, whoever this person Janes said he had a thing for -- well, eventually they’ll have to go right?

“Hey Janes,” Lucy called out. With her full hipped swagger, it was easy for another Wraith to pick up on her presence. Chad was quick to get up from the table then.

 

[Asmus Janes]

It was just a smile and a half-hearted wave. The most normal thing in the world. Perhaps that was why it caught Asmus off guard, had him smile back at her like a fool. And almost walk right into Lucy.

“Hey Lucy,” he replied, coming to a halt. He noticed that she had deliberately walked a path that forced him to do so.

“All tidy in your bay for once, get someone else to clean up for you this time?”

“I was reminded that I should take better care of tools,” he answered, trying to keep his expression friendly. To be fair he knew he wouldn’t have given up yet either.

“Are you running any diagnostics down there this afternoon?” she tried.

“Afraid I have a security brief for an operation.”

“Anything interesting?”

“A little risky, yes. Can’t say more sorry.”

Lucy narrowed her eyes marginally. This was going to involve that agent wasn’t it? Deck crew didn’t require need-to-know. They just cleaned up the mess afterwards.

“But… Chad was going to head down and run some tests on his ship today…” Asmus added as his squadron mate closed on them. “Chad, you said you could do with a hand? Anyway, gotta rush.”


With that Asmus departed the mess and headed for the briefing room. Nothing else to fill the next twenty minutes with, so might as well continue reviewing the documents. Perhaps Kaile would be as thorough.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


The rest of Kaile’s meal went seemingly uninterrupted save for a few more glances at her direction. The temptation aroused to walk over and only ask if they found what they were looking for with all of their passing glances. When the Zeltron gave her another, Kaile took the bait.

“Think she’s really interested in Janes?” Omar asked.

“Likely best you don’t find out,” Delaney replied, shaking his head at the Zeltron.

“There he goes,” Wilson was busy with other matters, shoving another fry into his mouth as his eyes twinkled with devilry. All eyes were now on Chad as he quickly inserted himself between Asmus and Lucy. From their position, they could see how Janes smoothly inserted him in to take point.

“He must have it bad.” Delaney dropped his two cents.

“Well, she is a redhead so -”

“-Feth.” was the only forewarning they got from Omar.

“Findin’ anythin’ of interest gentlemen?” Kaile’s voice cut through the chatter, bringing the entire table swiveling over to meet the large, chocolate brown eyes of the Agent. She’d dropped off her tray and was now leaning slightly forward on the table, palms flat on the surface as she arched a questioning brow at the three Wraith’s.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Yes,” Omar replied automatically.

“No.” Wilson almost immediately corrected. “Unless you're referring to Chad trying his best to steal some attention from our red headed flight deck tech.”

Omar didn't even notice the comment, he smiled sweetly at Kaile and released just a hint of pheromones without even noticing. Delaney sat in silence. He was young. He could talk, that was for sure, but he always waited to see where the pack mentality was going.

Wilson looked genuinely embarrassed at least. The realisation of just who this was was still sinking in and he didn't want to land Asmus in hot water.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Oh, he was a charmer alright. Kaile could tell right away. Omar had the very devil hanging on his lips, and the pilot was a scoundrel thorough and thorough. He could no more halt his nature than ask a fish to fly. Zeltron pheromones had a way of affecting people. How they came to play in influencing was different for every person. For Kaile, it always felt as if she found herself walking into a room full of sunshine and feeling as if she’d had just enough muja colada’s to give her that strong buzz -- and Omar was making her nose tickle with the use of it.

“That so?” both brows rose up inquisitively, the Lorrdian espion doing her best to try and work through the tickle of Omar’s pheromones. It wasn’t enough to look at Omar fondly, but sufficient to ease a bit of the tension that had set on her shoulders.

Brown eyes went flicking up to catch Chad and Lucy in front of the mess. Their body language was all wrong. Oh, Chad was certainly into the redhead. However, Lucy wasn’t too interested just by body language alone. No, she was looking elsewhere for a moment before Lucy even turned back to catch what Chad had been saying.

“‘Hmm, I’d be more careful then if I were you.” her large, wide hazel eyes seemed to skim over the trio with a curious gleam. There came the flash of the dimple, the crooked smile.

“Women don’t care to be so openly eyeballed unless invited.” she pushed back on the table with her hands to straighten to her full height. Her fingers gave a light rap on the surface of the table.

“I reckon your redheaded friend is quite handy with a servo driver enough to do some damage to more than just a snub fighter.”

Of course, what went unsaid was that Kaile was also of the same mind.