Oh My, My, Kiss The Sky

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

His thumb was brushing against the cuff marred with paint.

But at least for the moment Tash seemed more like himself again. Forward, joking, witty but with an obvious disregard for anything that didn't involve him (or her, but that development was still recent enough and ongoing that Tash didn't need to think about it). "How long before the virtual can be replicated in flesh and blood?"

The question came just as they entered the labs proper.

His hands were put firmly in their pockets, an arm offered to Cass, because it was noticeably *colder* here than above or even in the lift itself.

Made sense, Tash supposed, when you were cloning and working with genetic materials and the sort.

Humid warmth was the last thing you needed. The doors slid open and allowed them entry to a room that was increasingly futuristic on the eye. Itash hummed softly in appreciation. For the way it looked, considering he had no idea what all these machines actually did.

"If this works out well, I might order some more *special* products from you." He had an idea or two.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

"About two weeks for the initial test," she said as they moved through the hallway. "Then another two to three to grow out the mature specimens. We'll be growing out several times as many as you need, assuming we will have to cull some."

Her suit was long sleeved but short of skirt and she gratefully accepted his arm as they headed into the chilled facility. Doctor Reisner, a busy, severe looking woman with short blonde hair and aggressively blue eyes looked up from one of the machines.

"Afternoon Miss Paige!" She called out. "Just spinning down these samples, won't be a moment."

Cass had more patience for her scientists than for her administrative staff, so she simply inclined her head.

"Of course Doctor."

It was indeed only a moment before she came over. The woman didn't smile, she was too intense for that. Oh surely she did on occasion but here and now?

"Subject 3-7B?"

"Yes, please."

The other woman keyed into the system, a flat touch board in the middle of one of the tables, then swiped her keycard to complete data recall. A small hologram flickered into view. Fully animated, it cavorted across the table, alternating between flying, a painfully adorable hoping gait, and using it's long tail to grab rendered objects to bring it to its paws.

"We haven't given it a name yet, nor am I certain we should," Cass explained.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

It was always interesting to see Cass interact with others.

There were noticeable, but subtle differences depending on numerous factors. For instance there was far more reservation and calm in her approach when it came to her scientific staff. This wasn't a surprise. Not really anyway. Cassandra valued competence and having her time be spend well. The more professional of her scientists hit those areas rather well.

They talked little, did very well and over all never wasted her time.

"Rather... colorful." A glance from the doctor immediately prompted an elaboration. "No, that is fine." Head tilted as he studied the 'adorable' cavorting. This would do perfectly, really.

"Mhm, this hits the cuddle factor rather well, I'd think."

Plus it was smol and would have little difficulty sneaking into a bag, a pocket or otherwise find their way with its new owner. Then the issue came of giving it a... name and Itash immediately shook his head. "Its designation is enough. No sense in growing... attached to it." The plan was still to kill it at the end of the mission, after all. There was no real point to give it a name.

"Any complications?"

 

[Cassandra Paige]

"The telepathic communication was the only challenge," the doctor answered promptly.

"We won't know until it's actually, well, alive, how well it will function."

The woman glanced at Cass, clearly looking for permission for something. After a moment, Cass nodded once.

"You see the only other creature we've created that had that was only semi-sentient. Which meant that it could only communicate the limits of that. We've utilized that snippet of the genetic code, but there is some.... disagreement.... on how well it will mesh with the sentience of this model," she gestured toward the hologram.

The hologram paused, scratched its nose, then continued on its way.

"With the time constraints there was no chance to go out and acquire samples that would have already covered that connection. Think of it as..... using an off brand connector in a speeder. It may do the trick. But it's not a perfect fit and you won't know how much it leaks until you are on your way."

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Tash nodded.

Pushing it around here and there, before shrugging. "Let's hope for the best then." But plan for the worst, always plan for the worst. There was a new edge of calculation in his eye now.

"Can I have the room, please?"

This to the scientist only, who exchanged a glance with Cassandra. A nod exchanged between them and soon enough the room was empty safe for the two of them. Itash leaned lightly against the desk, studying the hologram up close. Why anyone wanted to own one of these pets was beyond him. Oh, they were cute, adorable, there was no way around that.

But they were messy.

"This room is secure." She had been clear about that- no cameras in the science facilities, just the corridors. That was something Itash could understand though. It was better not to have any evidence, rather than start deleting things.

Risky, very risky.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

"Of course," she confirmed with a nod. "I had the system physically isolated for this room. All of the data for your project is inaccessible to anything but the console right in front of you. And only Doctor Reisner and myself have clearance for the data."

She leaned against the table edge, bumping her hip there slightly.

"I believe that she is being overly cautious in her estimates. I have full faith that the telepathy will work as desired. The original sample for the creature she mentioned had those capabilities after all. But you know scientists. Without the hard evidence right in front of them they are timid about making promises."

Cass didn't sound bothered by that fact. She understood it actually. And she would rather they be conservative in their estimates, as opposed to blowing sunshine up her arse and making promised they couldn't keep.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Neither was Itash, truth to be told.

He'd rather have the time to prepare than figure out in the middle of the mission that something was deeply wrong. "It's fine, I will make some prep-" A screech, female, scream, high pitched and panicking, suddenly rushed through the room from the corridor. Itash looked up, brows furrowing. That was followed by more human screams of panic and hysteria.

At the same time other noises were starting to filter through the walls.

Stampeding, padding, lots of different things.

"Stay here." Their eyes met and understanding transferred easily, before the nobleman closed the distance towards the door. It slid open at his prompting, he pocked his head out and immediately retracted it again.

Just in time for a whole horde of creatures to rush through the corridor.

Most of them were small, others were noticeably bigger. They were chasing a scientist or maybe it was an administrative worker. Tough to say because of their speed. This was most definitely annoying. "The creations got out." Itash informed over his shoulder, before tapping his earpiece. "Lockdown quadrant Aleph-Cresh-Six, we got animals on the loose."

 

[Cassandra Paige]

Cass had grown very still.

"They got out."

Tone was almost reptilian in it's cold flatness.

"There's no way they 'got out'. Not that many. Sure one or two but not all of them unless someone-"

She stopped, her eyes widening slightly.

"Unless someone let them out."

The protesters. It wouldn't have been one of the GenPals scientists- the ones that remained had been thoroughly vetted, their backgrounds scrutinized. No. One of those damnable protesters must have gotten in.

She started moving toward the door, a certain, barely restrained fury in her own eyes now.

How dare they.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Oh, Tash knew that look and that tone. It was initially that got him interested in more than just getting a taste and moving on after that. There was *murder* there and that excited Itash more than Cassandra could know.

More than she might ever find out about too.

"Miss Paige." Detached of intimacy and strict now. "We have protocol for this. You approved it together with me, remember?"

This was a security breach and that meant guidelines. It meant securing the immediate area around her, make sure she remained put and safe, then resolve the situation as it occurred. All of which involved having some form of control over her.

He enjoyed that.

Tash closed the door behind him and gave her another pointed look. "You made me see reason there with the crowd. This is an escalation that we can use, but only if we escalate it right."

 

[Cassandra Paige]

There was a moment where it wasn't clear if she even really saw him. Not that he was invisible but that in her anger, there was a moment where he didn't seem to fully register. Where the mask that she always wore was gone. It only lasted a heartbeat and she was back. Frowning hard, she hesitated, as if she would argue, before relenting with a small, irritated nod.

She had agreed, and had indeed stopped him earlier.

As far as she was concerned, by entering her facilities and causing a ruckus, the protesters (still an assumption but a sound one) had forfeited the right to, well, just about anything. Trespassing, endangering her employees (assets difficult to replace in this facility), endangering her stock.

Her jaw was set and tight with tension, but she nodded a second time, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Fine."

Back teeth ground together.

"This means you lock me in this room until this is settled, doesn't it?"

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Cassandra Paige]

There was a moment where it wasn't clear if she even really saw him. Not that he was invisible but that in her anger, there was a moment where he didn't seem to fully register. Where the mask that she always wore was gone. It only lasted a heartbeat and she was back. Frowning hard, she hesitated, as if she would argue, before relenting with a small, irritated nod.

She had agreed, and had indeed stopped him earlier.

As far as she was concerned, by entering her facilities and causing a ruckus, the protesters (still an assumption but a sound one) had forfeited the right to, well, just about anything. Trespassing, endangering her employees (assets difficult to replace in this facility), endangering her stock.

Her jaw was set and tight with tension, but she nodded a second time, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Fine."

Back teeth ground together.

"This means you lock me in this room until this is settled, doesn't it?"

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

"Indeed." Itash confirmed with a nod, before whipping out his datapad and following along with the process his men were making on locking down the facility. They had trained for this, of course. Section by section closing off and isolating the pockets of wild animals, but also eliminating one exit after another, until the saboteurs were trapped like rats here.

"If you'd just let me teach you how to handle a blaster I might give you more leeway." The explanation came a moment later.

That was a big might, of course.

But Tash *would* feel better if she wasn't so useless in a combat scenario. The Galaxy hadn't known peace for decades now. There was always a fight *somewhere* and not being able to even put up a fight in a place like that?

Stupid.

"Protestors." The confirmation came soon enough. He walked on over to her, showing footage of them running through the corridors, trying to find a way out. "I imagine we want them alive."

 

[Cassandra Paige]

"Maybe I will at that," she said. Normally it might have been done with a teasing tone, but inside Cass was seething. In truth if he *had* trained her with a blaster prior to this, she probably would have shot the silly wretches and then had the security footage altered to make it seem as though it had been purely self defense. Surely someone could manage that. Or all she would have had to do what shoot them from one of the labs. No cameras. Her word against theirs. And her employees could be paid if need be.

There was a pause. It didn't stretch on forever, but simply a single beat too long.

"Yes of course."

Another beat.

"Naturally. We should contact the local constabulary so charges can be pressed. And use this as an excuse to get an injunction against the lot of them. Ugh even that will only keep them from being within 30 meters of the facility itself," she said with a wrinkle of her nose.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Tilt of the head.

"Oh, I think we should discuss the possible training once are through then." The continued press, before allowing the subject to switch again. After all having her carry a blaster would make so many things so much easier for him. It wouldn't be one of those things that Itash would allow to drift and hope it would be alright. No, her mind was courting the idea and Tash would be there to pull it home. Though her training would have to be excellent, just so she wouldn't shoot herself in the foot.

Or those allied around her.

"Mm. We could." He leaned against the table that held the holo-projector still. The pet was still cavorting around here and there, being all cute, playing with its own tale while zipping through the air. It was an amusing sight to be sure.

Especially with the background being so tense.

"...or we could make sure that we can stick more on them than they would have bargained for."

This was their facility after all. Didact controlled the security, the hallways, it would be relatively simple to escalate the situation to such a degree that there would be more... troubling affairs attached to these hooligans and miscreants.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

Again the pause. Again that cold calculation.

A moment, a deep breath in. A squaring of shoulders.

"Hit me."

She gave him a straight, emotionless expression.

"Make it good but nothing permanent, please."

It was clear what her intent was, she knew she didn't have to spell it out. Slap them will an assault charge. While it *could* be someone else, someone other than her, she didn't trust her employees to not tell, first off. Second off, she knew that she could sell it to the authorities without a hitch, and even someone in her employ she could properly bribe might not be able to pull it off. A bruised face, a split lip- that would be a very small price to pay to make them regret so bold an action.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

His thoughts had been elsewhere.

But instinctively Tash knew that Cassandra wouldn't find it agreeable. What a bother. They would have been able to put them away in jail for at least a decade or put them to work as legal indentured servants within the Corporate Sector Authority legal framework.

Alas.

It was not to be.

Itash studied Cass for a brief moment, before back-handing her firmly across the cheek and sending her sprawling to the ground. There had been quite some force in that. Mm. For some reason Tash had assumed that would be more pleasurable.

A thought to muse on at a later date, before he extended his hand for her to grab.

"Let me see." Fingers curling tight around her jaw, moving her angle away so he could look. "Hmm. One more, I think?"

 

[Cassandra Paige]

Even ready for it, there was no true bracing for something that had never happened before. From one moment to the next she was on the ground, catching herself hard with her hands and sending a jarring, sharp pain up through both wrists. The pain in her face- echoing of his hand, brought tears prickling her eyes as she opened her mouth and worked her jaw for a moment. Eyes watering, she reached out for his hand, letting him help her up. Gingerly, she felt her cheek- it would bruise spectacularly, she suspected, but when she looked at her reflection in the chrome table top, other than a red mark it offered very little of the immediately need.

"Yes," she agreed, her voice tense and terse.

"Something messier. Split lip, I think, I don't want you accidentally breaking my nose."

He could feel the resolve, but also the tensing of her body beneath his hand, the gritting of teeth.

This did not come without a cost.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

The tears were amusing.

Reminded him of different tears.

Still nothing else though and that was a source of annoyance for Itash. He had assumed. But no, this was too forced, too *planned*, the conclusion already decided and being worked for. There were no surprises and that made it dull.

So Tash pulled her in first, by her jaw, kissing her lips and giving them a good nip.

Then let her go.

This time the Tapani allowed her to prepare for it. If he wasn't getting anything out of it, it made little sense to make this difficult on the both of them really. She gave a quick nod or maybe it was spasm born out of anxiety. Either way- the closed fist loomed bright in her vision a second before it connected with her mouth and send her crashing to the ground again.

Blood this time.

Better.

"We can work with this." The Tapani commented calmly, while pulling out a tissue and cleaning his knuckle slowly while allowing her to get a hold of herself. Then he'd pull her back up if she accepted his hand, the same one that had knocked her down.

Some of her blood still clinging and refusing to go immediately.

 

[Cassandra Paige]

She heaved in a heavy breath, hair covering her face, then another. A third before she managed to get her shoulders to stop shaking. The first one had hurt. This was something else entirely. Necessary. Bearable, just. But dear lords. She'd never been hit like this before- and even literally asking him for it, she hadn't known entirely what to expect. She didn't blink back the tears this time, letting them track down her face- she knew from experience just how devastating streaked eye make up looked. It made any sob story look worse. Cass could cry on command, but she didn't really need to fake it, simply let the actual pain do the work for her.

On the plus side, this meant she'd be better able to fake being hit by someone in the future.

A much better option, if she were being honest.

She reached up, touching her lip then wincing, fingers coming back bloody. She could taste the copper in her mouth. Despite the pain, she wiped the back of her hand across her lips, smearing the blood and then letting it drip onto the suit.

She accepted his hand up with her other hand, breathing in deeply, if a bit shakily.

Cass loathed how hard she was shaking.

"Wash your hand in the sink," she said, her voice thick.

A drop of blood dripped, thick and slow, from her lip, already swelling, onto the white cuff of her suit.

[member="Itash Mecetti"]

 

[Itash Mecetti]

[member="Cassandra Paige"]

Now that was pain.

He could feel it from her. Waves washing over him in spades and it was *good*, but it could be better. It wasn't the time for it and maybe it would never be. Pity. "Mhm, quite right." Tash let go of her and settled himself against the sink.

Cold water started pouring and he let it run across his skin.

The bite was pleasant, but it did make his knuckles whine just a bit. He hadn't gotten her on the best angle back there.

Could have been done better. Then again- wasn't like they'd a lot of practice with it.

"The protesters are in custody." Mecetti informed her a moment later. The update had filtered through just a moment ago. They were already being herded to an isolated place in the facility away from any prying eyes, not even GenPals personnel would see them.

Everything about this had to be tightly regulated.

"Ready?"