Gravity

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

“Better.” Kaile replied, setting the tin back down as if caught red handed. A small flush colored her cheeks a rosy pink, and she swallowed hard. Okay, time to get your bearings Kaile girl. Both hands rose to tuck her hair behind her ears.

“Umm,” rather awkward moment. Gosh, stop acting like a ninny!

“Will I need to stay any longer?” She asked the nurse, shoulders half tucking against her head a bit rather sheepishly.

“Well that depends on a check of your vitals and one last scan. I can get that started now if you feel up to it.”

A quiet nod was her reply, her attention having already fallen to the tin at her side.

Part of her wanted to ask, but another said she shouldn't. Curiosity and a need for confirmation won out.

“Umm… Who left this?” A forefinger gave the tin of biscuits a small tap.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Hmm…” the togrutan tailed off as he took some readings. “If I tell you, will you tell me what they did to warrant an apologetic…biscuit tin?”

Qeuy leaned his huge shoulders over the edge of the bed and checked the monitors. Then he gently placed two fingers against the inside of her wrist to check her pulse. He liked to do things by hand to check nothing was faulty.

He knew Asmus well enough. He wasn't bad, for a Litzen City fan. Watching games with Asmus was like watching it with a woman, he reflected. You had to sit through more comments on thighs than you were comfortable with, but at least he knew the rules. He'd tried to get Spenph to watch a game with him once and had turned it off by the quarter break after being asked for an explanation for the umpteenth time.

The bothan had quietly explained that Kaile had seemed a tad troubled the previous day. He would do all he could to keep her in good humours so they could get her discharged as quickly as possible.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]



“Guess that ‘pends on who it was.” Kaile quipped back, a slight frown furrowing her brows. Why did he want to know? For a moment, the Lorrdian couldn’t help but feel a tad defensive. Maybe because she barely woke up after having a few drugs in her system, but she was being rather short.

“Could have been a well wisher who comes ‘round handin’ out biscuit tins for the invalids.” which, to a degree held a measure of truth, but odds were that was not what typically occurred this deep in space with such a small crew. Out of several hundred, it could still feel quite small regardless.

“Take it that’s a yes on being able to leave??” Kaile repeated again, as the Togrutan did not answer her question. The longer she stayed her, the more uncomfortable she felt. That sickly sweet scent of bacta was already saturating her hair, and Kaile didn’t need any extra reminders first thing after waking up.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

His chuckle was a deep rumbling noise that was felt in the bones as much as it was heard. "Asmus Janes was the one who snuck in to drop off the tin. Well, I think he thought he was sneaking anyway. And we'll get you out of here as soon as we can, but the doctor has to sign you off. Doctor Ubleque will be down in a few minutes."

He fell silent for a few seconds so he could concentrate on her pulse and the speed of her breathing. With a nod and a smile he released her wrist and turned to the case on the wall next to her bed.

"Can you just pull back your hair so I can put this on your temple please?" he asked as he took out a small patch no larger than a thumbnail. A simple medical scanner to be stuck down to monitor the brain for a few seconds.

"Any dizzy spells or nausea at night?"

 

[Kaile Vera]

So it had been Asmus…

That managed to quiet her down some, visible from the slight increase in her heartrat monitor at that. It was a rather annoying lie detector, and the more it beeped the more the espion simply wanted to rip the biopatch off.

“No,” Kaile replied, brows furrowing at yet another medical scanner patch she’d have to wear. A heavy sigh came, and she slid her hand up to push her bags away from her temple. Her medical file would indicate she had several cybernetics implanted in her head. The exact nature of what they did was redacted, but if any extra bits of activity were noticed, one could say that it was due to the datastints and the ocular corona’s that activated a HUD over her eyes.

“Not recently.” she elaborated. Typically she had a strong constitution. Only when she was hit with the worse case of the flu or when she was --

Her mind shut that thought down, boarded it up, and swung the turadium vault door on that. Swallowing hard, her fingers curled at her sides.

“Same as normal.” is all she said.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"So what did he do? Talk over your handball game?" he asked. He chuckled to himself, but there was just a hint of repressed annoyance under the surface.

"Well now Kaile, looking at these I'd say you can probably get back to work. I mean, we could keep you under obs for another day if you're not feeling confident. As long as you want to go ilk go get the signature?"



Asmus meanwhile was busying himself with his ship. He'd built this not a few months after he'd met Kaile the first time. Mal had been the one to start to teach him to fly. He still had a bunch of astronavigation certifications under his belt, so he could transfer back to a position on a capital ship down the line. But then at that point in life maybe he'd want to get his feet back on the ground? Plenty of big stone frigates he could work on.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

“I.. take it the Captain was a chatterbox with yours?” a question instead of an answer, standard deflecting but Kaile said it so smoothly that it would be hard to catch it. At the end of it all, it hadn’t been what Asmus had done to her.

It’s what I did to him…

A slow shake of her dark head came next. “I’m feeling fine… really.” honestly she didn’t want to come over to begin with had it not been for her superior officer ordering her to. As it was, she likely had to go over whatever pass down was sent to her to inspect.

“I’ll just stay in my room and not strain myself. Darak is the one who needs more attention,” drawing the focus away from her and over to her partner who was floating in the bacta tank. He too, should be getting out of there today. Possibly in the afternoon.

 

[Asmus Janes]

The nurse was in high spirits. That was probably because it was the start of a shift. He tapped away at a data pad and shook his head, a broad grin on his jaw.

"Not many ships where you get tugrutan handball fans. Was like watching a game with a girl. More comments on thighs than the tactics being employed. I still watch a game every now and then with him. Always better to watch with people you know? And easier to get them to turn the limmie off in the rec when two of you want a game. No there's a dreadful sport..."

His data pad beeped. He tapped the screen a few times and then went to a locked draw.

"Doctor's just signed you out remotely, but sent in the prescription to go with the discharge form."

He then proceeded to go through all the usual spiel on the use of the very common painkillers in a paper bag. Then he repeated the symptoms to watch for.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

The whole next five minutes honestly were a blur. Kaile half listened to Nurse Quey while he went on to explain how to pop her pills and their side effects. Not like it wouldn't be hard to read the same information on the status chit in her file; they always sent an encrypted follow up with all the details.

Off the bed and smoothing down her clothes, Kaile quietly got ready to leave the Med-Bay. On the bed sat the tin of chocolate biscuits, and she'd be lying if she didn't have her eyes drift over to it now and then. Once she was done, the espion indecisively bit on her lower lip. She vacillated on the decision to take them with her or not. The neat handwriting of one Captain Janes staring up at her-- 'Sorry' he said.

He wasn't the one who had anything to be sorry about.

In the end, Kaile was only human. She'd be lying if the token didn't manage to tug at her heart. It did. Much like in the past, Asmus could be quite endearing-- and despite all his rakish tendencies and shameless scoundrel ways, he meant well.

And he didn't lie.

That's the thing about Asmus, the Lorrdian mused, picking up the tin case in her hand, the cookies inside giving a small rattle. Asmus had been honest and upfront on what and who he was- exaggerated tales and all.

He had a good heart.

And he was too good for her in that.

 

[Asmus Janes]

https://youtu.be/5roz5-wdjBg

Down in one of the maintenance bays beneath the hangar deck Asmus was stripping plates from underneath his hull. Music thumped around the small room, filling his head with noise and drowning out the maelstrom of thoughts and insecurities.

At least Lucy wasn't around any more. Apparently she'd made her own decisions on why he was spending more time around the flight deck. A problem for another day.

Asmus had settled on one thing. He needs Kaile to tell her that she didn't contact him because of what she did. That was all. He just needed to hear it, have her state it plainly whilst he could see her eyes. After they'd crossed that barrier, what would be would be. But at least he'd stop nagging himself within his own head.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Despite a night at the med-bay, even Kaile couldn't just go straight to her cabin. All the hoopla of the night before then a day there suppressed her hunger, but now her stomach was protesting rather loudly.

A small grimace and a sigh. She could hit the mess, grab something to eat, maybe get a few snacks to hole herself up in her cabin with while she rested a bit more-- and avoid Asmus, as a voice interjected in her thoughts, printing Kaile to grimace. Glancing down at the tin of cookies she gave an emphatic sigh.

Why did things have to be so complicated? Frowning, the woman made her way through the deck towards the galley. Not too many people were out and about at this hour, but it would fill up soon enough.
[member="Asmus Janes"]

 

[Asmus Janes]

Unfortunately Asmus had made the assumption that Kaile would still be in the med bay. A quick wipe down of his hands and face was followed by a tender pat on the nose of his ship. She’d held together well over the years. With Rogue squadron he’d been in a variety of ships. Off the shelf X-Wings, high-spec B-Wings, but none had endured and stuck with him. He knew every nuance and gripe that she would give him. He’d compiled most of the software for the computer and HUD himself.

He wore loose pants with plenty of pockets and a dark green vest top. Hair was back to its bedraggled best rather than the usual, very particular wayward mess.

At a quick pace Asmus made his way towards the officer’s mess. It had slightly more spacious tables - for a starship - and better dessert. Higher quality caf as well. Small privileges for a hero of the infamous Rogue Squadron.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile was right, the place wasn't too crowded. A few officers from supply and logistics. No one from Intel. The thing about being embedded is that whenever one got back on ship, there was a plethora of new faces. New names. New personalities.

Coming up the line, Kaile took a tray, setting her medicine onto the right side on top. Fingers curling around the edges, the brunette quietly went over to the hot plate line. Deep space travel didn't quite lend itself to the most tasty of meals. There were a few gems, and oatmeal seemed to be a good compromise.

Fresh fruit was w luxury, but dry were just as fine. She'd be able to take some back to her cabin.

“What can I help you with, ma'am?” The question was tossed out at her by the galley droid.

“Would you be interested in an omelette?”

Huh, actually that didn't sound too bad.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus rounded the corner of the door. He came to a sudden stop.

“Oh.”

She was stood there at the front of the line, talking to the galley droid. She had his tin with her. Asmus wasn’t a cowardly sort, not by a long shot. He had no qualms telling people exactly what he thought and even the largest space battle only gave him a buzz of nerves. Even the crash during the Battle of Coruscant hadn’t changed that.

Right now he was almost paralysed. He was nervous, downright scared. Thoughts of her urging him away from the medbay and rudely shoving him out of her door came back to him. It would be plastered across his expression. And if Kaile didn’t notice it, a certain junior officer from the flight deck had.

“Coward,” he whispered to himself. He’d been standing there an unusual length of time now. Asmus Janes, the scoundrel, the fighter ace, turned and fled.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


“I'll take an omelette,” the Lorrdian replied, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. “With cheese, nuna bacon, and veggies please.” The veggies were processed and the eggs an odd package of what could pass as eggs, but an omelette still tasted like an omelette regardless.

“Right away, Ma’am!” the galley droid would pipe out, his multiple arms moving in a smooth motion to fulfill her order. With her standing how she was, she only had her profile towards the would be scoundrel that froze in place by the entrance. Her mind was still saturated with the recent events and from being in medical that those keen senses of observation were a bit dull.

Not for Junior Officer Lucy Cheville. As one who had made it her personal mission to keep an eye out for Captain Janes, the redhead had her attention latched onto the poor fool as soon as he came into the galley. Well, perhaps that was a bit too generous seeing as how he froze in place looking as if Togrutan Handball would forever cease to be played again.

She even gave a little wave, trying to act coy but failing utterly at it. He wouldn’t even turn her way! Blue eyes narrowed fully, only to frown. He still wasn’t moving. What was he looking at?

Narrowing down his line of observation was not hard. They were fixated over at the hot plate line. A woman has senses like a kathhound and Lucy was as fixated on a scent. Well there was Lir, a strapping young communications Lieutenant from the bridge. Too skinny for her taste and spoke rather nasally, so not her type. There was also Xan, the Devaronian logistics Second Lieutenant -- fantastic with that silver tongue of his but last she heard he was strictly trying to get into the good graces of one of the other pilots in Wraith. That left a rather pasty faced brunette that Lucy wasn’t too familiar with. Her face scrunched up. Wait, wasn’t that one of the Intel agents Asmus had picked up at that extraction point?

A narrowing of the eyes came next. Swiveling over to the exit, Lucy made her move. Taking her tray, she got up off her seat. Who needed breakfast?! She had a Captain to chase.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus had his head down as he slunk away, tail firmly between his legs. He was trying to convince himself that he'd turned and left on her account. After all it wouldn't be fair to cause her to break down in front of all her peers right? It wasn't just because he was, for perhaps the first time in his life, genuinely afraid of being rejected. It was Kaile. The one that got away. The only one who…

“Hey Asmus!”

“Oh hi Lucy,” he replied in an off-hand manner before returning to his thoughts. That elicited a scowl at his back.

She drew up alongside him. “How's your ship?”

“I think she's fine. Just needs some parts tightening up I think. Thought I'd get my mind off, well thought I'd save everyone the time and get my hands dirty for once.”

Was she still there in the mess hall? Could he catch her on the way back to her room?

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


Talk about things not quite adding up. Asmus could let his mind drift now and then, but there was always some purpose to it. Pretty as he is, he was also brilliant. Not to mention the rest of him wasn’t too shabby either..

Which is why Lucy made it a point to try and get the Wraith Commander into her clutches. He was known as a hero and an excellent pilot. Not to mention word had it he came from a rich family. Besides, they had a good time and honestly, she did care for him. So she was genuinely concerned.

Now if he would only pay attention to me!

“Keep your mind off what?” she inquired, quickening her steps to catch up with him. “Hey… stop,” she finally said, getting a bit frustrated. All yesterday he appeared absent minded. Her hand went reaching out, curling around his forearm to get him to slow down.

“You okay?” blue eyes went skimming over his gorgeous face. The man was too pretty by half with just enough brawn to make any red-blooded woman want to run their hands all over. Plus that hair, she’d been itching to grab it again.

“Anything I can do to help?” enter total obvious play, that hand moving up to glide coyly over the lapel of his vest, “If you need to keep your mind off of things….”

Meanwhile, Kaile had her omelette packed up in a nice to go box. A few snacks were collected in a brown bag and she now had enough food to last her the next day or so. Good enough to be hobbled up in her cabin. LIkely she could milk her sick chit for another day. Honestly she was going to be useless in any briefings. Her mind kept going back to Asmus.

The brunette couldn’t help but wonder what he was doing. It bounced along in her head along with trying to figure out how to deal with the situation. Word had it that there was a fuel station some four days out. Maybe she could request being dropped off or sent off to another mission early.

Frowning, the Lorrdian left the officer’s mess. She had her brown bag, her medicine and the tin of biscuits Asmus had given her. She had every intention to head back to her cabin. Unfortunately, fate would have other plans if Asmus and his junior officer paramour lingered for too long.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus turned and looked at Lucy. Almost as if noticing her for the first time. Really? This too? Now? A few weeks ago she might have been a sympathy lay, but he just found Lucy...boring. Apt at failing to truly consider other people’s feelings, Asmus decided to just be equally obvious. If it hadn’t been quite so distracted he might have let her down a little more easily. In his head, he thought he was being subtle by mentioning someone else instead of dealing with how he felt about her.

“Sorry Lucy, it’s just...someone I care about a great deal is back on the ship. I haven’t seen her for a long time. And I’m getting mixed messages about how she feels about me. It’s all a bit confusing and I need to work out what to say to her,” he said. His eyes looked over Lucy’s shoulder back towards the officer’s galley. He would need to brave deck B again. Asmus knew a lot of people on the ship. Several of them owed him favours. He could probably get one of them to let him know when Kaile’s guard dog would be out of the way.

“How are things down on the flight deck?” he asked in a neutral tone, offering her a small smile. A half step put a little bit more distance between them. He really didn’t need this right now. “Sorry I put some dents in that shuttle.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


For a moment, Lucy’s face was rather blank. In no way did I hear that correctly… did I? Really, you could see her struggle through that bit of information that Asmus gave her.

Sorry.
Someone I care about…
...on the[SIZE=18.6667px] ship…[/SIZE]
Haven’t seen her…
Mixed messages.

Then out of the blue ask her about the flight deck? Really? REALLY?!

Oh did that expression of befuddlement shift so quickly. Maybe Asmus should have been a bit more tender about her feelings, but her red hair was about to show through.

“... Sorry?” she repeated blankly, and did that right hip cock out, hand coming to perch right over it.

“Dents on the shuttle?” was her face starting to get a little red? Yeah…

“Are you serious?” okay, getting emotional now. Was he really rejecting her??!

“Are you really giving me the same story you gave to Jis’do??!” Well, guess that story had made its rounds. Granted, how many times had Asmus given that as his gentle ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ excuse?

“If you don’t want to be with me then just be honest about it!’ Lucy cried, gesturing wildly with her hand.
“Don’t go making up stories about some random woman when everyone on the ship knows you!” maybe shouldn’t have said that, but she was hurt. Her lower lip trembled and she took a step forward. So much for space.
“Don’t you like me? We get along just fine you and I, at least it seems that way.” oh yeah, this was starting to get rather awkward. Especially when she tried to reach for him again.

“We can start things slow…. Try it out…”

Down the hall, Kaile heard the escalation of a woman’s voice. Brows furrowed in a frown. Was everything okay? Didn’t take long to see two people standing there, and boy, their body language even from where she was at said Red Alert!

Honestly, she should have just turned around and fled. However, that was kinda hard to do once she recognized that profile of the man standing there as if under the third degree spotlight.

Asmus.

 

[Asmus Janes]

Oh hell. This is what happens when you mouth moves without your brain.

For the first time ever Lucy had his full attention. He didn't even notice Kaile. She'd always been part of the background on the flight deck. An affable, perky part of the furniture. Like the welder, or the lift.

She swung from outright anger to taking another unsubtle run at him. It suggested she was perhaps even less interested in a long term relationship than he was. On another day, he might even have taken her up on it. As long as they had a good talk before hand to see what their expectations were.

“Lucy,” he said clearly to get her attention. Her eyes snapped up to his gaze. He held his arms out wide, an apologetic look on his face. “We get along just fine. I like getting along just fine, it suits us. I'm sorry, you want me to be honest I'm just not interested in us being taken further. There is someone else. I'm not lying, I'm just all in a muddle right now.”