The front saucer section of the Quintessence was split into two levels. Living space and cockpit on the top level, quarters on the lower level. A circular corridor ran around a central chamber that housed the ship's computers. Asmus had always nagged Kairon to buy more guns, but Kairon had always invested in scanners, engines and computers. In truth the old man was right, Asmus could admit. They'd given many a cruiser a slip by calculating a string of micro-hops to shake them off. Not like a turbolaser gave a Sith cruiser much pause.
He led her back to his narrow little bunk to gather clothes and then to the small room that contained two sonic showers and the laundry machines. Asmus hopped up onto a machine whilst Kaile loaded her clothes.
Now he only wore simple cargo pants and a vest. No fancy jacket, no hand stitched holster. His scoundrel routine had been stripped back in more ways than one. Berated by Kairon in front of her, the girl nearly in tears. Things couldn't get much worse. What was there left now really? The damn truth and the fact that you signed up to help her get out of here, he chastised himself. Was it always this difficult trying to do the right thing? They always seemed to get into the worst scrapes when they went out of their way for others.
He shot her a half smile from his perch, legs tucked up beneath him. He had the same bright eyes as his uncle, but green flecked with yellow rather than blue with grey. Instead of being framed by weathered features that sketched out a difficult past Asmus had sharp, almost feminine features and high cheekbones. Kairon always remarked that he had more of his mother than the broad jawlined males of the Rees family.
“I'm so sorry,” he said earnestly. “I'd intended to explain to him first. He'd have been fine with it all. He barks and he doesn't want people to realise he gives a kriff, that's all. You should see him around his partner, he's soft as soap really. She'd have given him a good dressing down for swearing at you like that,” he said with amusement in his eyes.
“Sooo…me. I was in that shootout on Mantell, but I only shot one guy. Kairon and his bodyguard do most of the work when we get in a scrap. I did get tortured by the Union when they hauled us over, but I sang like a bird after twenty minutes of it. Aaand I really have been in one battle, not three. But I did shoot down some TIEs. Can't remember how many I said last night but it wasn't that many,” he said holding up two fingers and waggling them.
“Hey, if you hang about we've got a light load. We usually use a bay for some ball. Can do some two on two with you aboard!” he said, trying to find some positive in the situation. Asmus did that a lot. Not much kept his spirits down for long. There was always something positive to be found in the ‘verse. After all, the alternative for him was being an accountant in his dad's company. Spaceports had excitement, sex, beer and conversation. He couldn't imagine an office job offering the same.
~
