Aaaine
Everything, anything, for science.
Location: LCFO Headquarters, Vassek.
Time: 1130 hours.
The sun was unusually beating today. Vassek’s weather had been commonly stormy, or at the very least, overcast from the moment that Aaaine had established the laboratories headquarters here. Rarely did the planet’s sun peak out from behind those green-gray clouds. It only so happened that the day that they would be hosting an extremely important visitor would be the day the sun decided to peak out.
It certainly wasn’t only Aaaine that felt the sun beating down on her blue skin. Next to her, shuffling and wiping her brow in the heat, was Esabii. The Rodian was clearly uncomfortable, enough that the head researcher looked over at the younger women, attempting to speak with some level of sympathy. “Esabii, dear, you don’t have to be outside to meet them. I’ll be more than happy to meet you inside once they arrive.” More shuffling came from the grad student, shifting how she was holding the datapad in her hand. She looked ready to wave off the Chiss’ concerns before she was interrupted by the voice over Aaaine’s other shoulder.
“Esabii, if the good doctor says you’re good to wait inside, you’re probably good to head on it.” Crimson eyes turned to regard the built man over her other shoulder, a small smile peaking at the edges of her lips as she saw him speaking directly to the student. He didn’t give the Rodian a second chance to deny the kindness, either. “Go on. Promise we won’t head to the labs without you. If by some horrific miracle you get left behind, just have Specs radio me. She’s on overwatch.” A quick side nod toward the top of the two story building, built into the face of the mountain’s rock, where the hanger’s landing pad jutted out from. Stare near the top long enough, and the glint of a scope could be seen.
Starry eyes watched the top of the tower before returning her attention to the head researcher and solider. With a sigh, she jutted the datapad out to Aaaine. “Fine. Don’t forget me, though, or I’ll find a way to make your quarters just a bit too cold tonight, Alecari.” The chiss took the datapad, and with a glint of mischief in her eye, the grad student turned to head back inside the facility. Her little comment left the man chuckling, returning his attention to the skies. “She is quite the character, isn’t she?”
Aaaine let the cold face drop for a short moment, now that she was in the presence of one of the few that she could confide in. “And has one of the most intuitive minds here, Alecari. I wouldn’t have her work so closely with me otherwise. Besides,” She paused, eyes searching the skies for the shuttle soon to arrive. Chewing the inside of her cheek, a soft breath escaped her lips. “She has her own motivations for working here. Much like you and me.” Truth was, every member of these facilities had their own stories. Stories of oppression, death, destruction. Credits were a motivation for some, of course. But for most, the work they did here had meaning to them deeper beyond filling their own pockets.
There was another pause in their conversation, both staring into the skies with squinted eyes. It was Alecari that broke the silence first, a somber tone touching the edge of his words. “You’ll graduate her, before everything goes to kark, right?” Aaaine didn’t respond beyond releasing a slow breath, more chewing the inside of her cheek. She didn’t know how to respond. Even as she opened her mouth to attempt to, the crackling of the holo broke through their conversation.
“Shuttle on approach, lovebirds. Eta two minutes.” The dark skinned man turned to the tower, a mix between an annoyed snarl and dismissive roll of his eyes fighting a battle to be more predominantly displayed on his face. “Specs, maybe if you spent as much time watching the satellite readings as you did listening in, maybe you could give us more than a two minute heads up.” Laughter burst through the comm, enough to strike a smile back onto Aaaine’s face. With barely contained mirth, the member of The Padlocks signed off. “Oh, sir, don’t worry. I’ve been watching it the whole time. Just didn’t want to interrupt your and the good doctor’s conversation.”
Aaaine reached up to place a hand on Alecari’s shoulder before he could fire back, shaking her head. Black hair, tied into a messy bun, bobbed as nodded toward the skies. She spoke, as much to the comm strapped to Alecari’s chest as to the man himself. “Our guest will be here soon. Specs, if you would please inform the rest of The Padlocks, I would appreciate it.” It was barley a moment before a quick, “Of course, ma’am,” could be heard. The researcher reached up to Alecari’s chest, turning the holo off with the press of her finger. “Focus in. It’s time to be good hosts to our jay friend.”
The soldier, turned security and captain of the group that kept this facility and by extension, Aaaine safe, bristled momentarily at the researcher's touch. He softened after a moment, knowing what exactly the Chiss had done. Giving her a small nod, they both returned to gazing at the skies, ready to take on exactly what was coming.
Time: 1130 hours.
The sun was unusually beating today. Vassek’s weather had been commonly stormy, or at the very least, overcast from the moment that Aaaine had established the laboratories headquarters here. Rarely did the planet’s sun peak out from behind those green-gray clouds. It only so happened that the day that they would be hosting an extremely important visitor would be the day the sun decided to peak out.
It certainly wasn’t only Aaaine that felt the sun beating down on her blue skin. Next to her, shuffling and wiping her brow in the heat, was Esabii. The Rodian was clearly uncomfortable, enough that the head researcher looked over at the younger women, attempting to speak with some level of sympathy. “Esabii, dear, you don’t have to be outside to meet them. I’ll be more than happy to meet you inside once they arrive.” More shuffling came from the grad student, shifting how she was holding the datapad in her hand. She looked ready to wave off the Chiss’ concerns before she was interrupted by the voice over Aaaine’s other shoulder.
“Esabii, if the good doctor says you’re good to wait inside, you’re probably good to head on it.” Crimson eyes turned to regard the built man over her other shoulder, a small smile peaking at the edges of her lips as she saw him speaking directly to the student. He didn’t give the Rodian a second chance to deny the kindness, either. “Go on. Promise we won’t head to the labs without you. If by some horrific miracle you get left behind, just have Specs radio me. She’s on overwatch.” A quick side nod toward the top of the two story building, built into the face of the mountain’s rock, where the hanger’s landing pad jutted out from. Stare near the top long enough, and the glint of a scope could be seen.
Starry eyes watched the top of the tower before returning her attention to the head researcher and solider. With a sigh, she jutted the datapad out to Aaaine. “Fine. Don’t forget me, though, or I’ll find a way to make your quarters just a bit too cold tonight, Alecari.” The chiss took the datapad, and with a glint of mischief in her eye, the grad student turned to head back inside the facility. Her little comment left the man chuckling, returning his attention to the skies. “She is quite the character, isn’t she?”
Aaaine let the cold face drop for a short moment, now that she was in the presence of one of the few that she could confide in. “And has one of the most intuitive minds here, Alecari. I wouldn’t have her work so closely with me otherwise. Besides,” She paused, eyes searching the skies for the shuttle soon to arrive. Chewing the inside of her cheek, a soft breath escaped her lips. “She has her own motivations for working here. Much like you and me.” Truth was, every member of these facilities had their own stories. Stories of oppression, death, destruction. Credits were a motivation for some, of course. But for most, the work they did here had meaning to them deeper beyond filling their own pockets.
There was another pause in their conversation, both staring into the skies with squinted eyes. It was Alecari that broke the silence first, a somber tone touching the edge of his words. “You’ll graduate her, before everything goes to kark, right?” Aaaine didn’t respond beyond releasing a slow breath, more chewing the inside of her cheek. She didn’t know how to respond. Even as she opened her mouth to attempt to, the crackling of the holo broke through their conversation.
“Shuttle on approach, lovebirds. Eta two minutes.” The dark skinned man turned to the tower, a mix between an annoyed snarl and dismissive roll of his eyes fighting a battle to be more predominantly displayed on his face. “Specs, maybe if you spent as much time watching the satellite readings as you did listening in, maybe you could give us more than a two minute heads up.” Laughter burst through the comm, enough to strike a smile back onto Aaaine’s face. With barely contained mirth, the member of The Padlocks signed off. “Oh, sir, don’t worry. I’ve been watching it the whole time. Just didn’t want to interrupt your and the good doctor’s conversation.”
Aaaine reached up to place a hand on Alecari’s shoulder before he could fire back, shaking her head. Black hair, tied into a messy bun, bobbed as nodded toward the skies. She spoke, as much to the comm strapped to Alecari’s chest as to the man himself. “Our guest will be here soon. Specs, if you would please inform the rest of The Padlocks, I would appreciate it.” It was barley a moment before a quick, “Of course, ma’am,” could be heard. The researcher reached up to Alecari’s chest, turning the holo off with the press of her finger. “Focus in. It’s time to be good hosts to our jay friend.”
The soldier, turned security and captain of the group that kept this facility and by extension, Aaaine safe, bristled momentarily at the researcher's touch. He softened after a moment, knowing what exactly the Chiss had done. Giving her a small nod, they both returned to gazing at the skies, ready to take on exactly what was coming.
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Valery Noble
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Valery Noble
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