Miss Me?

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

Kurt let out a sigh. He supposed that was only right. His own parents would skin him alive if they found out that he'd brought Jamie to Mos Espa but not back home to the farm. Still, the idea was more then a little appealing, especially considering that he'd heard The Gungans used some sort of vehicle that could travel through the very center of Naboo.

He would have to convince Jamie to help him find one of those things before they left.

"What's there to find out about me?" Kurt said with slight disbelief. "I'm not all that unique."

He of course forgot about his parents. Both his mother and father were refugees. Granted the world and government they fled from was now no longer in existence, but where they were was still a well kept secret, one that they would rather not have spread around. "Don't think they'd care about my racing days...or navy days."

Maybe the latter.

Kurt shook his head, then decided that he'd had enough of this serious talk. His back was aching and they'd completely forgotten about exploring the ship. He smiled slightly and pressed his lips against her own before she could say anything, his fingers drawing over her hips and pulling her close to him.

"I'm just not going worry about it." The Courier said as though finally making a decision. "After all, who couldn't love this face."

He gave her the most winning smile he had.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Kurt was oblivious to just how valuable information could be, regardless of the value any one individual thought it was worth.

"Just because you find it unimportant doesn't make it any less so."

There was a certain seriousness to her that she hadn't ever really brought out before. It wasn't emotional, like her tantrum she had thrown when they had first met, or when they were aboard his ship and she had become angry or frustrated with him. This was stone-faced serious. "Anything, and I do mean anything personal is valuable. Maybe not now, maybe not a year from now. But one single moment of use is all it takes for that seemingly invaluable bit of information to be cast out at the right time. Just be careful of who you talk to."

The blonde's playful demeanor and smile returned, and she let herself be drawn close to him.

"You don't have to worry, just be cautious is all." She smirked, placing her hand on his cheek and squeezing it a bit. "True, you're adorable!"

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

He perked an eyebrow. "I think you mean..."

For a moment Kurt trailed off, his fingers sailing from her hips to her lower back. He pulled her closer then he had before, his finger slowly beginning to trail down her spine as he kissed her way down to his neck.

"Manly." He began, his slowly moving. "Rugged."

He trailed off just slightly as he pressed against her, teeth gently pressing into her neck for half a second. "Handsome."

Half a dozen other adjectives came to mind, but he found that speaking probably wouldn't help him anymore.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

A sudden inhale of oxygen surged through her chest, forcing her head back against the cold durasteel plating of the ship's hull. "Yes." She whispered in response to his individual words. Kurt had a knack for finding her buttons and pressing them just right. He also tended not to play fair when it came to matters such as these. He was keenly aware of how to excite her, how to put butterflies in her stomach, and how to exploit those reactions in a way that often benefited him by getting him out of trouble with her, or silencing her protests.

Not this time. Despite the heavy groan and deep breath she almost immediately let out by his particular method of caress, she placed her hands on his shoulders and firmly pushed back.

"You said you were going to rest. You promised you would. I've seen you wince, grimace, and grunt in pain a dozen times now since then. You stopped in the middle of the corridor and said your back was bothering you."

Her expression remained gentle and warm, but her tone was stern. "You're pushing it now."

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

He gave her that winning smile again. "I just had to make sure we were on the same level."

His fingers slipped from her hips and trailed up to grab her hands. He grasped her palms and moved them slowly up to his lips, kissing each knuckle individually as if he were seeking some form of forgiveness. He then looked up at her and offered and apologetic look.

"Come on." A gentle tug on her hands. "Lets go lay doen for a bit. I promise I wont try anything."

For a little bit at least.

He was only human after all.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

The most sarcastic ever "Uh huh." followed Kurt's supposed level check. Still, she couldn't help but smile as he then proceeded to kiss her hands.

"You're incorrigible, you know that, right?"

Falling into a short stride just behind him, her hand still in his Jamie followed him back towards the main quarters. "Alright."

Still, it was difficult for her to let go of the thoughts running through her mind over those tapestries. To her it was simply infeasible that a woman like that would purchase a ship, have a secret room constructed, and then wind up in that kind of company. The more she thought about the possibilities the faster she wanted to reach Naboo to find some answers. What exactly was this ship that Kurt and her were on board? To her, they couldn't get home fast enough for her curiosity.

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

Two days passed, and true to his word Kurt didn't try anything...much. There were a few times his hands wandered, but really who could blame him?

Either way the time passed relatively quickly, with sleep compacting much of it. Though he had initially resisted it, the truth had been that Kurt needed the rest. When he finally managed to fall asleep, Jamie at his side, Kurt had lapsed into something of a coma. The deepest sleep he had ever experienced came upon him, and as the hours passed Hyperspace drifted all around them. The few times he awoke were met with calm words, a kiss or two, and a small meal.

It was nice. Simple, calm, but it eventually came to an end.

On the third day Kurt awoke, his back still aching but the pain having dulled to a low throb. The bacta had done its work, and where there had once been a gaping trio of gashes now lay three long scabs. They itched to all hell, but were healing quickly. The Courier stretched with a loud yawn, his eyes flickering towards the chrono on the far wall, a small count down clock hanging beneath it that showed their journey was nearly done.

"Hour and a half." He said to himself, marking the time in his head.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Her finger pressed the button and released the doorway to the bedroom. There she found Kurt lying down, though awake. The blonde leaned against the frame and looked at him with a smile. "You're up."

Jamie stood back off the wall and wandered to the side of the bed where Kurt was laying, placing her hands at the edge to lean over him, hair falling in front of her face. "How do you feel?" A question she had asked every morning. His well being was her top priority, so even if it aggravated him by her constantly checking on him she'd continue to do it regardless. Closing the gap between them she pressed her lips against his cheek.

"I made breakfast if you're hungry. I was just coming to wake you up."

Running a hand through his dark hair she gave him a proper kiss, her other hand gently rubbing his scruff. "I think we're pretty close."

There was a clear level of excitement in her words. It was obvious that she missed her home. There was something uniquely magical to her about home. The planet itself was almost like a serene paradise to her. One that she didn't truly appreciate in its' entirety until after she had left. The lush forests and many lakes, rivers, and streams were among her favorite things, as well as endless fields of wild flowers that grew. It was something one had to see for themselves to truly appreciate. Aside from Kurt meeting her family, this was what she wanted to show him the most.

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"About an hour and a half away." Kurt loosely pointed in the direction of the clock. It had been one of the few pleasant surprises of the ship, and showed that whoever had owned the rust bucket before them actually cared quite a bit about being on time. The Courier could appreciate that, considering that half his profession was all about being on time. He stretched slightly, cupping Jamie's hand in his own and bringing it to his lips. He pressed successive kisses against her palm, then slowly stretched.

"It's better." He said through a yawn. "I think mostly healed."

That wasn't entirely true, the scabs were still very prominent and moving around too much would very likely tear them open. Jamie had made that exact comment last night before he'd gone to bed, but Kurt liked to think that he had some supernatural healing ability. He let out another yawn, then slowly moved to get out of bed.

If they were going to get there in an hour, he wanted to make some last minute checks on the ship. "Do you know anyone at the Theed Hangars?"

That was really his only other concern, landing authorization.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"Good." She smiled with a nod."I've had enough of staring into darkness for days. I need people, and real food, and, well, things to look at." Jamie wasn't exactly the best space traveler. She became fidgety and restless when there was nothing to keep her mind occupied visually. There was only so many times one could pace the halls and stare at the glow of hyperspace before one went temporarily insane. "Fresh air would be nice too." It was obvious she was getting anxious to get off the ship.

"If you're still a little sore when we land there are a few springs that I know of that we could visit. That should help to relax the muscles in your back some."

Standing from the bed she offered Kurt a hand to help him up. "I know a few people that work there. Why? What do you need?"

If it weren't for her friends there, it would have been a whole lot more difficult for her to get off world and to the spaceport. She hadn't exactly asked for permission when she ran off to go train with Keira.

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

He shifted slightly, sitting up on the edge of the bed so that he could steady himself before getting up. For some odd reason, his back hurt the most when he was initially standing. He guessed that it was probably the damage to his muscles and tendons, but the odd prickling pain that he got every time he stood didn't really give any hints towards it's source. It was always broad, always everywhere. Kurt frowned for a moment, then slowly pulled himself up, Jamie slipping an arm around his lower back to help him up. "I'll replace the air filters when we're planetside."

Kurt grinned at her.

"That way we always have fresh air on here." It didn't quite work that way...but no one needed to tell Kurt that. "We need landing clearance."

The Courier said finally as he reached for one of his shirts, scooping up the black fabric and slowly slipping it over his head. The garment was still somewhat dirty, the washing machine aboard the ship not currently functioning well enough to properly clean anything. "Theed is a little tougher to get into then Spira."

They could technically land on the outskirts of the city, but that meant a lot of walking. In his current condition Kurt wasn't sure if he was entirely capable of walking that far.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

"Even still, it's not the same as breathing in the smell of trees and flowers." She argued, though appreciated the concern for her comfort. "It's just not something that can be substituted."

The blonde wiggled her nose at the realization of needing a bit more than a hope and a prayer to land on a planet like Naboo. "Ohhhhh. Right. That." For a moment the girl bit into her lower lip, pulling it beneath her teeth as she pondered the thought. "I know someone who can land us. A friend of mine, his father works the control tower for Theed's royal docks. Give me just a minute."

The girl wandered around to the other side of the bed and opened the drawer within the nightstand, taking out her comm. With a few taps on the screen and a few buzzing noises later someone answered. "Hellllllll--JAMIE!?" The blonde laughed and nodded to the figure standing in blue within her palm. "Hey Troy!" The person looked about her age, rather thin and lanky. "How are you!? WHERE ARE YOU!?" The person practically shouted. "I'm well, but I'll explain later. I'm coming home. Can you ask your dad to clear my ship? I'll send you the information you'll need if you can get it to him."

With a nod Troy replied politely. "Of course, of course! Certainly. I'll send it to him as soon as I receive them and have him contact the ship you're aboard." Jamie laughed and turned to Kurt with a nod. "Great! Thanks Troy!"

When the figure disappeared from view she spoke again to Kurt. "We should be all set. Just need to transmit our ship's ID to him."

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"Well that was easy." Kurt said as he plopped himself down in the pilots chair.

There was of course, one thing they hadn't considered.

This ship very possibly used to belong to a woman that had apparently gone missing some time ago. This ship had not changed it's ID codes, it's engine signature, or really anything about it. For all intense and purposes, they were flying in a ship that might have belonged to a woman that had been murdered or otherwise disposed of. Of course, this would look very bad to anyone that knew the story of the missing person, and also happened to remember the ID tag that would pop up when Kurt sent the transmission to the surface.

Of course, neither Kurt nor Jamie thought of this, and Kurt happily sent the message towards Theed's control towers. "Alright babe."

He began as the ship neared suddenly lurhced and dropped out of hyperspace.

"You may want to strap in." The Courier said. "Remember how this thing takes off."

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Kurt didn't have to tell Jamie twice about strapping in. The girl went wide-eyed and promptly dropped herself into the chair, quickly throwing the harness over her shoulders and around her waist, locking it tightly in place with the fear of a thousand Gods. "Right. This is the part where we find out if this old shoddy piece of durasteel is going to try and kill us or not." She wasn't an overly superstitious type, but she said her prayers quietly to herself as Kurt relayed the ship's ID and readied the ship for descent.

Jamie's feet immediately began to shift, fidget, and bounce on the floor without her really noticing. A side effect of nerves from their earlier take-off and the potential for things to go sideways in so many different ways.

"I cannot wait for a real water shower." So many luxuries of home that were just not available when traveling through space. "And fresh fruit!" The more she thought about it the faster she wanted this part of the journey to end. She was able to somewhat calm herself by taking her mind off of the countless things that could go wrong once the ship hit the atmosphere by thinking about all of the great things waiting for her at home that she could share with Kurt. "It's going to be great!"

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

He looked over at her and smiled. It was funny in a way, those things weren't at all home to him.

Real shower? Tatooine used Sonics. Fruit? Rare as all hell.

It was strange just how different they were, how their upcoming had been worlds apart by several degrees. He shook his head slightly and looked at the controls of in front of him, his attention turning towards the atmosphere of Naboo that seemed to loom before them. "Here we go."

Moment of truth.

There was a slight lag, then a dragging lurch as the ship began its steady drop into the planets atmosphere. Kurt took a tight hold of the controls, gripping them until his knuckles were white. His breath lagged for a moment as he swore he heard the engines stall, but after a moment the repulsor lifts kicked into life and quickly the Nubian Starcraft dipped down towards the planet. Within several heartbeats they tore over the ocean, the looming city of Theed, half of it sitting upon a massive cliff lay ahead of them.

He smiled slightly, holding the controls tight and guiding them forward.

"Which hangar was it again?" Kurt asked her as they shot forward, the ship emitting a sort of loud creak as they once again moved closer towards the ground.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

If Kurt wasn't too busy already making sure that the ship stayed in the air he'd have seen Jamie's hands shake with such genuine fear as they held on as tightly as the muscles in her allowed. Every single sound that came from the ship made the girl's heart skip a beat as it descended lower. Each and every time making her wonder if that was something important about to give way. Even the sounds that were supposed to happen frightened her. The alarms on the control console indicating various levels, temperatures, and alerts served only to further her anxiety. Before I step foot into this thing again I am making sure to have some type of medication.

The whole time Kurt maneuvered the ship she made not a sound, breaking her silence only to answer his question of where they should land.

"It's that one there." She said, pointing to the massive opening in the center of an arced building that overlooked the ocean.

To the left and right stood individual statues depicting ancestors while just behind the hanger rose a connected, rather large dome shaped building that served as the control tower for the royal hangar.

"This hangar is generally reserved for military and VIP arrivals and departures. Most every day citizens use the Intergalactic hangar on the other side of the city. When I left I actually used the other hangar so it wouldn't be easy to find me."

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

"Well." He said quietly as he dipped the ship towards the hangar she pointed out. "Let's hope no one shoots us down."

As it turned out, no one did.

The ship bucked quite readily in the direction of the hangar, shifting to the left and gliding almost too easily. For a moment he wondered if the ship was about to explode, it's light and easy drift seeming a bit too good to be true. Eventually however, when the ship passed through the barriers of the hangar bay Kurt managed to breath a sigh of relief. The Nubian made one last heavy rock as it came to rest on it's landing gear, a loud metallic creaking shreak out as they came to a standstill.

"Ouch." Kurt said quietly, a shiver running up his spine. "That..."

He trailed off as he looked over towards Jamie who was wearing a none too pleased expression. "I'll fix that."

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Why in the galaxy would they shoot us down? She wondered to herself as Kurt brought the ship in to dock.

It seemed that the codes that were transmitted at the very least were enough for Troy's father to secure a landing for the two. That was a start anyway. And the fact that they were now more or less out of harm's way allowed Jamie to finally relax her white knuckled grip on the arm rests of her chair and take in a few steadied, calm breaths. "We made it!" she finally managed to say, after having heard the ship sound like it was going to buckle beneath its' own weight. By the grace of some kind of otherworldly entity it managed to stay standing.

With everything finally at an end the blonde unlatched her harness as quickly as possible and cast it to the side to climb out of her chair.

"Home!" She cheered, helping Kurt to his feet with an abundance of energy, more than enough for the two of them. "Fix this thing later, let's get out of here for now." With Kurt she lead them down towards the ramp to exit the ship.

[member="Kurt Meyer"]

 

[Kurt Meyer]

[member="Jamie Pyne"]

Kurt smirked, pulling himself up to his feet with Jamie's help and following along with her, though in truth, it felt more like he was being dragged. She tugged at his arm and nearly bounced off the walls in excitement.

He hadn't ever seen her this happy.

"Relax!" He called to her with a big grin. "We have all the time in the world!"

They stomped through the ship, but apparently Jamie wasn't having any of it. She was far too excited about finally being home, about seeing her family and showing Kurt everything that Naboo had to offer. He couldn't help but smile at that really. She was just excited. He likely would have been just as excited if they were on Tatooine. They tromped through the ship quickly, reaching the ramp in no time where they found it...stuck. He let out a ruefull sigh. "One sec."

Kurt took three steps over towards the Ramp, assessed the hydraulics, then delivered a solid kick to the metal frame work.

In an instant the ramp dropped down to the hangar.

 

[Jamie Pyne]

Jamie's laughter echoed off the walls of the hull as they made their way to the ramp. "Come on! Come on!" If Kurt was any slower she might be afraid that she'd tear his arm out of its' socket. Though when they got to the exit to see that something else was malfunctioning Jamie simply gave an all-knowing shake of the head, as if she were no longer surprised by the ship's inability to properly function. They were on the ground though, so that was all that mattered to her.

Of course, Kurt's approach to resolving that issue in the interim was rather abrasive, kicking it with enough force to drop it with a resounding THUD on to the surface below. The echo was enough to send a ringing through her ears momentarily, as well as making her flinch. "Just another thing to add to that list, huh? You sure you want to keep this old pile of tr--" As she turned her head while speaking she was quick to notice the several guards with blasters pointed towards the two as they exited ship.

Immediately her hands went up. "What's going on?" One of the guards stepped forward and spoke directly to her. "Ms. Pyne, you and any of those with you on board this craft will need to come with me." Turning to Kurt Jamie shrugged, confused. "Welcome home, I guess?"

[member="Kurt Meyer"]