Satellites

[Kaile Vera]

:: Enroute to Eriadu
:: The Solaris

"Another mission?" to say Kalie was in shock was putting it mildly. Lieutenant Vo, of course, caught the slight strain in the Lorrdian's voice. Kaile's apprehension was evident as the agent processed the news that she would be flying another undercover mission. Not that another mission was a bad thing; she spent far too long the past few years trying to get every one she could get. Anything to help her keep her mind busy.

What she hadn't expected was to hear that she would be flying to Eriadu -- with [member="Asmus Janes"] as her counterpart.

When I'm already being tugged in all directions on what to do with him...

"Is this a problem?" there was a twinkle in the Sullustan's eyes. Kaile could tell he was probing for more information. Her face grew blank.

"No, no. Just surprised that we would have a Wraith Squadron commander fly undercover." well done Kaile, good deflection.

"It is imperative to determine if Viscount Avarn is a First Order sympathizer. His family has connections to several shipyards and trade venues on Eriadu. Sending in Captain Janes with his family ties to the merchant nobility is an excellent cover and allows you to investigate with little risk."

"But what of the risk of his family?" that bothered her. It was as much as it had with Kurt. Kurt. Kaile's throat gave an uneasy bob.

"Captain Janes has been briefed on all aspects of the mission, Agent Vera. I trust that as done before, you are well aware of the risks and take full precautions."

Kaile's brows drew together tightly.

"- But he isn't even trained in undercover operations." she added, reaching out to take a step closer.

Vo's large dark eyes studied the Lorrdian, taking in the subtle nuances of emotion that shone in her brown eyes and across her expression. It wasn't so simple to hide anymore from her, was it?

"Captain Janes has had an extensive amount of training, Agent. I assure you, he will do well based on his history and his reputation on Eriadu. You'll have oversight of the operation."

"Yes, Sir." Although the thought of being alone once again with Asmus and back on his home planet practically terrified her.

There was so much she still had not told him. Even more, Kaile was still uncertain just what to do with him. Her heart told her one thing. Her head another. It was a constant battle of both and when he was near her...

It just made it all the more difficult to stay away.

 

[Asmus Janes]

His shoulder still itched fiercely but at least he could use both arms on the controls now. The Solaris was a sleek, gleaming blade that he pushed through the hangar to touch down without the slightest jolt. Alone in the cockpit, he smiled to himself. It was a lovely piece of machinery, responsive and willing. Captain Amadgenar had absolutely forbade the ship being requisitioned for military use. Which had only spurred Asmus on further to have it brought into the ownership of the SIS Starfighter Corps. It had a new name and ID tag before the Captain even had time to put in the forms to have it disposed of. The sound of his teeth gnashing had been music to Asmus’ ears.

The smile evaporated as he looked through the viewscreen. They were minutes out from Eriadu now. Home. He wasn’t just flying home, he was taking Kaile there. Those stars he had long ago fled and on his ship those he now worshiped.

It made him nervous. They had travelled early. He’d arranged to stay at his beach house. Several days in seclusion with just Kaile and the ocean. Perfection. But at the end of those days they had work to do. The trail they had picked up led to a noble who sympathised with the First Order on Eriadu. It was summer ball season and Asmus was wearing absolutely no cover to get Kaile close enough to determine if he was really selling Alliance secrets. His family would be at every event they attended.

Asmus pushed a few levers into place to settle the ship’s power output and made his way back into the living space. There was something he needed to explain to Kaile. He simply hadn't found the time back on the frigate. Asmus was slightly nervous she would be disappointed in him and hadn't figured out how to phrase it yet. There had been the debriefs, the 'minor procedure’ as Kee had put it, and catching up with his squadron. And pretending to watch the rest of that show. He walked past the shadow of their deactivated security droid and approached her.

“Are we set?” He asked her. Now how to explain why he owed the girl in robotic maintenance a few favours.

There was a clunk behind him. Oh no.

[Hello Kaile, Asmus. I have come out of hibernation. This should be exciting? Our second mission together!]

Asmus forced a smile onto his face. He bit his bottom lip. They had told Jay right to his face that he needed to be wiped and Asmus’ heart had broken a little. So he had bent some rules instead.

“Surprise!” He tried weakly. “He still remembers us…”

[And I now know fifteen different ways to kill a man. With my bare hands.] Jay announced exuberantly.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

[SIZE=9pt]For a few seconds, Kaile's expression froze. A Lorrdian was so easy to read if one knew exactly what to look for. What subtle nuances that would dance and form over a brow, in the twitch of a mouth, the pulse of a nerve. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]For Kaile, it was a medley of surprise, shock, dawning awareness, a brief flutter of amazement, followed by the widening realization of just what this meant. In between were shades of joy at seeing Jay Four, having already mentally prepared herself for what typical protocol would entail. Wiping Jay Four was an unfortunate necessity and not something that the agent had any clout to halt.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]So seeing Jay Four took Kaile aback. It was the weak, guilt-laden half smile and the wiggle of Asmus' hands that made everything snap into place. [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Oh no...[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Kaile's mouth fell, only to close back up. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]"Jay Four, I... wait [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]what?[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]" more confusion went scattering over her expression, turning from the droid back to Asmus again. Was he being serious? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]"Fifteen ways to kill a man?" lips pursed and then she gave a slight deadpan stare to Asmus - even if it was so terribly hard to maintain it. He had the exact expression of a little boy caught with his hands in the cookie jar and sheepishly trying to not avoid Kaile's probing gaze. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The agent gave a brief wag of her brows almost as if to say, '[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Asmus[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]!' [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

“That bit wasn't me!” He sighed and rolled his eyes. Meeting her expression he rattled off what had happened. “Vo thought it might be good for us to have some backup protection so he wanted him flashed with tactical subroutines. But that's after I hightailed it down droid maintenance and made a deal. I owe a couple of favours but they just erased a few sensitive details like the identity of the man we extracted but left everything else and his personality matrix in tact.”

He took a breath in and offered another little shrug.

[Well I can see you both have things to discuss but we have clear operational parameters. I have to check the equipment that may be required if we have to infiltrate a secure location.]

Asmus turned to Jay and raised an eyebrow. “Well, looks like those subroutines have kicked in nicely. But hang on, who is in charge here?”

Jay wasted no time in raising one arm and pointing square at Kaile’s face.

“Right and who is in charge between you and me?” Asmus asked. With his right hand he pointed from the droid to himself and back again.

Jay gave a noncommittal shrug and turned to face Kaile, waiting for permission to go to the storage room.

Instead of speaking, Asmus attempted to use the new implants.

I can see you red trying not to crayon laugh! Asmus accused Kaile, trying not to do so himself. Red crayon. The words were the bane of his existence right now. Kaile had spent time with him in the med bay twice during their time on the Subversion. Those minutes where the medics had left them be and she had just held him to know he was safe would stay with him forever. The first had been minor surgery to seal the blaster wound. The second had been to install his own implants.

To teach him to sent simple text messages to another agent they had made him repeat “red crayon” over and over again until he could turn the thoughts into words in the interface. Exchanging data through the interface was entirely new. Especially when connected to a ship. But to display a simple text message on the vision of another agent required deliberately turning abstract thought into text. He had the hang of it now, but unfortunately his mind kept thinking “red crayon” and the words kept sneaking into half the messages he sent. The pair had been practising back on the Subversion before departure.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

[SIZE=9pt]"So certain?" the Lorrdian agent shot back in a challenging quip. Although, the bulk of her positioning in the matter falling to the wayside by the fact that she had, indeed, ended up fighting the twitch at the corners of her lips. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A roll of her eyes, and she simply shook her head. "Come on, we might as well get opacking before he thinks too hard about using those fifteen different ways to kill a man." Kaile had no shame in emphasizing that bit. Asmus couldn't have done this himself. He had to have had help. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]As Jay meandered off to check the stores, Kaile murmured low,"Alright... spill." that is, explain it all. With as much as he'd been rocking on his heels and shifting his weight, Kaile could very well read that he felt he had to explain himself. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]In the meantime, Kaile did her best to try and hide her joy at the knowledge that Jay Four hadn't been wiped. She failed. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus slipped the fingers of his left hand into her right. Perhaps he felt that being anchored to her would lessen any beration he was due.

"So Ro'vena, the woman in charge of Ghosts, she hasn't had her BB unit personality flushed since she joined. Has an arrangement with the woman down in droid maintenance that she just wipes the sensitive things. Generally she isolates the hyperspace calculations and location parameters and wipes them. Easier for her; that BB unit is the sweetest thing in the world."

[And I'm not? ] Jay chimed in incredulously. Apparently he wasn’t out of earshot. Jay was to be sent ahead to Asmus’ parent’s home with the Solaris once the pair had been dropped off at the beachouse. He hoped the droid wouldn't do anything silly.

"But I owe a few favours now and we'll be missing the holoprojector again for a bit, but she obliged and Jay's still here."

[Thank you.]

Asmus gave a shrug at the sound of the modified droid's thanks. He quickly moved the subject on.

"Vo went rifling through my old files. Naval intelligence analyst came up second recommendation in my assessments. After navigational officer. Starfighter pilot was down in third place. Thinks I'll be able to handle this assignment as long as I do as you say. But... He thinks I'm a little impulsive. Yeah, how would he get that idea?" He laughed seeing her expression. "So now Jay is here to keep an eye on us and deal with any trouble. Got a few upgrades too."

But what he really wanted to talk about was how they were going to deal with integrating into the merchant society. And potentially meet his family.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

[SIZE=11pt]It was still quite a bit to take in. While the notion that Jae hadn’t had his data processor wiped was a surprise, seeing him there was still a bit startling. Even if it brought her a measure of relief. Jay had grown on her, but like the agent had been attempting through the entire previous mission, distancing herself hadn’t quite worked out as she intended. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Asmus had everything to do with that. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt][ Red Crayon ] came flickering as text over her ocular interface in the middle of Asmus’s explanation on [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]why[/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] he was here. That is, why Vo had assigned him along with her. It still bothered her a bit. One voice said it was due to his safety and that of his family. Another, far more selfish one said that it was because he was making it harder for her to break away. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]With every day she woke up and saw his roguish half grin and saw the gold flecked pleasure in his eyes that spread across his features in joy at seeing her, it made it all the more difficult for the Lorrdian to keep that protective wall up that kept her sane the past few years. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]Kaile bit her lower lip, bringing her arms up to cross them under her breasts. A subtle indication of apprehension. Even if the flicker of “red crayon” made the corner of her lip twitch. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]“Yeah but…” she began, concern in her gaze as it went drifting from Jay over to Asmus. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=11pt]“Being undercover is different. This won’t be a cover.” a pause. “ Not for you. Not for your family.” she hadn’t said [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt]it’s dangerous, [/SIZE][SIZE=11pt] but it was implied. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=11pt]It was a risk for his family. That same risk is what tore Kaile apart when it came to Kurt. When it came to Asmus so many years ago. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

That Asmus could be impulsive wasn't all that Vo had said. In a rare show of emotion from the intelligence analyst he had told the pilot to watch for the risks Kaile might take with her own safety. It had seemed an innocuous comment thrown in, but in hindsight Asmus hadn't been able to shake the look in Vo's eye. Perhaps just his imagination. After all Vo was a difficult man to read. But he had looked concerned for his agent. It had brought to mind Kaile telling him to escape the shuttle whilst she piloted it to her demise.

"No, I guess it won't," he replied. There was always a risk of imperial sympathisers on Eriadu. Even after what the First Order had done there were those who thought the Galaxy needed a strong leader with absolute rule through military might. Many were careful about how they worded it, but expressed as much openly.

"I guess I just play myself and leave most of the delicate work to you so I don't draw any attention." It sounded simplistic, almost childlike and he winced after he said it. Some risks were worth taking, but if he said that out loud he would have to roll his eyes at himself.

This wasn't a quick mission. They had some time before the ball season began. Then a number of balls before the final event at the suspect's own home. His own family didn't have a property large enough for one. They rented an old mansion near their home. The powerful merchant families liked that, it was like dancing on the grave of what they saw as the entrenched nobility. A role they didn't seem to realise they were quickly inhabiting themselves. Asmus could remember chastising Kaile for confusing the two classes. More time and seeing home with a different perspective meant that he could see how blurred that line was. Saying there was a difference didn't make it so.

What scared him about this trip was not the prospect of blowing their cover. Two things worried him. In recent years his parents seemed to have taken his change of career as a sign that he wanted to do less dangerous work and perhaps settle down. Every return there was a thinly veiled game of introducing him to prospective partners.

Kaile's cover was simple enough: an Incom engineer who he had started seeing. The merchant class and therefore his family didn't judge on wealth or breeding. Mostly because the nobility did that and they liked to talk about not doing what the nobility did. But there would be... opinions. His mother wasn't known for keeping them them to herself.

The second was his entrenched reputation. That his family had started trying to get him to settle down and that he continued to attend events with other pursuits in mind was well known.

Asmus might have shut off his interlink to her node to avoid 'shouting' red crayon at her, but then lorrdian would easily read a complex thought process going on behind his eyes. That was, until a sudden spark of amusement flared to life.

"I'm going to have to finish teaching you to waltz."

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

[SIZE=9pt]So much for trying to keep this professional. [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]Who are you kidding Kaile? That went out the window the first second you saw him in that escape shuttle![/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The Agent had been in the middle of opening her mouth to give a reply in response Asmus simply playing himself and out of the way when he hit her with an unexpected left hook. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Mouth fell open only to shut, breath half caught that the Lorrdian forgot to breathe for a few seconds, taken aback at how quick he was to switch from a casual air towards pensive thoughts and then shine her with that scoundrel grin and laughing green eyes. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Things were so simple for him. Nothing colored in shades of gray. Just pure white. Her arms came up to cross over her chest a bit defensively, her mind and body warring with the emotions the simple reference evoked.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Like the weight of his hand at the small of her back. The heat of his body when he swung her along to the steps. [/SIZE]

Close your eyes, please….
...need to... sense you.

Okay.

[SIZE=9pt]The way her own had so intimately settle against him to follow the flow of the dance and more dangerously, the way Asmus had looked at her at the time. Where jade green orbs turned into a candlelit forest with gold flames, a smoldering glow that made her weak in the knees and her head spin.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=9pt]I’ll agree with anythin’ if [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]yous[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] keep on lookin’ at me like that...[/SIZE]
I’m going to hold you to that, because I’m surely going to keep looking at you like this.

[SIZE=9pt]“Yeah… well.” she began, licking her suddenly dry lips in growing anxieties. Nevermind her heart had jumpstarted at the mere suggestion, the Lorrdian attempting to hide her curling fingers buy tucking her frists right under the crossed arms. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]“I don’t think you understand what I meant.” her gaze fell, finding a spot by the bulkhead behind him.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=9pt]“There’s no takin’ it back. No erasin’ decisions that have repercussions down the line for those you care for. It ain’t just your life on the line.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]So much for the lighthearted attempt at Asmus bringing back the waltz. Maybe that was just because to a degree, Asmus might still be naive. Or maybe he simply wanted to relive that experience once more. For him, it was a fond and cherished memory. He’d tied it to something he had lost but managed to find again. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Kaile, well, for Kaile it was a conflicting memory that dredged up more than its fair share of bittersweet memories.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=9pt]Nevermind that this whole mission basically had her pretending to be his flight of fancy for the ball. Vo must really have a terrible sense of humor he or wanted to push her. Likely both. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ Oh are we waltzing? Will I need to learn how to waltz?] leave it to Jay to break the tension and draw the attention of both SIS agents over to him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A half awkward chuckle broke through Kaile’s pale expression, the corner of her mouth lifting. “I don’t reckon we’ll be having you near any one of ballrooms Jay.” her arms fell away and she gave him a slight, comforting pat on his upper arm. The metal was cool under her palm, solid. Steady. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Breathe Kaile.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Focus. Right. It was easy to read the underlying mental thought process of the Lorrdian when she was trying her best to separate herself from emotions and common sense. The former couldn’t control how she felt about Asmus while the latter warned that she should get it together and play the role of the agent.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=9pt]Thing was, it was harder and harder each day to retain the crumbling barrier when all Asmus had to do was look at her so.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=9pt]So not fair.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I should read up on the rest of the mission directives,” Kaile added, turning back from Jay over to Asmus. Ah, here you are again Kaile, trying to run away. Not that isolating herself to go over the notes of Asmus being charged to simply ‘act himself’ and be a distracting honeypot was any better.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=9pt]It shouldn’t matter. It shouldn’t bother.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=9pt]But it did. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

At times she could utterly confound him. Hidden behind the walls she put up. When he had first met her that pain had been a barrier between them, but it wasn’t his. He hadn’t caused the situation that had put the young woman on edge, had her trying to hold back tears when her emotions caught up to her. This time it was. It wasn’t as obvious as before, but she was troubled and it was directly because of him. Jut his very presence. Idiot, she had chided herself as he was forced from her room. That word echoed around his head.

Jay was a welcome distraction. His own emotions turned his ocean of thoughts into a turbulent place. They were difficult to navigate. A few more seconds allowed him to compose himself. Bringing up the past was clearly going to be a problem for some time. What he decided he needed to let her know was simple.

“I do,” he said softly. “Understand, that is. And I know you’re trying to protect me again, just like you did before. I appreciate that.”

He looked down at the floor for a moment. His demeanour hadn’t entirely changed, but there was a far more thoughtful expression on his face. Asmus would probably always have youthful features. He’d inherited a slender, almost feminine look from his mother. Five years was a long time for a man his age; he could look more serious than he ever would have wanted to when Kaile first met him.

“If I could tell them, then I would. Maybe not dad actually, he panics over each quarter’s numbers far more than can be healthy. But we all lost people when the First Order left Eriadu and mum…” His eyes came back up to meet Kaile’s and his hands opened to either side of his waist. “...I never thought she would have approved of me joining the military. Perhaps it’s just because she thinks I wasted so many years on the Quin but she was actually proud when I joined up.” His tone made it clear that it was no regular occurrence.

“You do look after me, even I do my best to get myself shot.” He grimaced and scratched a spot on the side of his head. “Just...make sure I understand what the risks are. We’re not here to get anyone else hurt. If you think we have to stop, then we do.”

He had gone on too long. A little voice was telling him to be quiet. What had happened to Kaile? Repercussions down the line for those you care for. He couldn't help but remember how lonely she had been when they had met the first time.

“Anyway, we have a few days at the house before the first event if you want to finish reading there. And I might as well go through the names and faces with you so you can ask questions.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]And I know you’re trying to protect me again, just like you did before. I appreciate that.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]In more ways than one. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][ Will there be danger? Does this mean I will get a blaster this time? ] Jay’s modulated voice managed to keep Kaile focused on the task at hand.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“Not at a party there, bud. How about you go on and save some of that power. You’ll need it once we get there.” she added quietly, a half smile crossing her face that didn’t quite reach her eyes. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt][ Alright. ] he settled back onto his charging unit, his eyes powering down until he shut down. Kaile could feel Asmus studying her, watching her. Read the tiny nuances that ran over his rugged, angular face. A face that had taken that scruff along his jaw and scraped across the delicate skin of her neck, so different from the contrasting sensations of the fresh shaven Asmus from five years prior. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]The thought almost made her miss the part where the Wraith Commander mentioned a house. [/SIZE][SIZE=10pt]Wait what house?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“Huh?” truth be told, the agent had only skimmed over the mission parameters and the plan. She’d gotten as far as reading over the details on the Eriadian nobleman and that Asmus would be with her, using his family’s connections to get closer to their target. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“What house?” did he mean a rented facility? That was more likely than spending any time at his family’s estate. Kaile might have set her foot down on that one had that been the case. Her brows drew forward in confusion, arms dropping at her sides. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“Not your family’s estate?” was that a little hint of dread? [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Oh I thought I’d...no I didn’t…” he trailed off. It had been on his mind to talk about with her and Vo back on the Subversion. “...but no not my family’s estate. And I wouldn’t really say estate. It’s a...anyway not important. There’s no point paying for a hotel I have a house we can stay at.”

Asmus looked towards J4 and then offered an almost apologetic shrug. “I mean, it’s free at the moment.” He closed his mouth before it could carry on talking without him. There was a nice view, peace and quiet. It didn’t seem the time to boast about it. Or even to suggest there were several rooms so he wasn’t doing this for selfish reasons.

But am I? He thought to himself. Vo had asked if he could use his connections to make this happen, but he could have refused. He wouldn’t have, not under any circumstances. Still, he felt guilt for the small corner of his being that was looking forward to spending more time with her. She tried - from time to time - to try and distance herself again. He could almost sense when she was trying to do it. Yet every night since they had returned they had ended each day in the same bed.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]There was a sense a relief only to wane for a moment until Asmus mentioned that they were staying at his house. For a moment Kaile didn’t know what to say. How could she have missed that?! [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]I really need to review those mission parameters…[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] she thought to herself, not quite sure if this was better or worse. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Oh.” a rather soft-spoken reply to the news. Now they were both shuffling in place. To anyone else, they would have the appearance of two blind fools, awkwardly moving between wanting to look at one another and yet glance away. Kaile for her own reasons and Asmus still figuring out just where was the line. The line he so desperately wanted to cross and get answers to. The conversation that both had managed to avoid amidst the light of day and the tangle of each other's arms at night. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I didn’t reckon you had your own place ‘round here.” or more aptly, she hadn’t discovered that bit of knowledge in her last check up. Thinking about it that way made it seem as if she were stalking him. Moments of weakness when the Lorrdian would fall victim to her own longing and just try to find out a little more of what was going on in Asmus’s life. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Dozens of questions went racing through her mind. When did he get it? Where was it? Those were just a few of the basic inquiries. Others followed that were not quite as free of avid curiosity. Like when he was there last and with whom?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The mind was a terrible thing. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Stop it, Kaile told herself in her mind. She might have skimmed the details but the agent was aware that one of the main reasons she was here was based off playing a role. One that would be fairly commonplace for Asmus Janes to bring about. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Kaile wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Honestly, she wasn’t sure how she felt about everything. Although the more she ended up thinking and dwelling on it, the more nervous she became. By that point, Asmus seemed to be able to read her so that a single touch managed to make her head spin and temporarily forget, lost in the stars of his eyes and the way he made her feel. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“How secure is it?” right, reasonable questions while Kaile went through the attempt at getting herself together. Or more aptly, trying to seem as if she had everything together and that nothing affected her. With the relaxing of her facial features and the even tone of her voice, one might have believed that. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]For Asmus, who took advantage of every opportunity to simply be with her would know otherwise. It was the tiny tells at the corner of her lips and in the shift of her weight. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

There was a barrier between them here. Or perhaps it was just a weight Asmus felt that could not be removed in the circumstances. The mission was a blessing and a bane together. When he had been briefed, on his own in a small room with Vo, he had realised it would mean more time with Kaile. But that came with the knowledge that everyone moment she spent with him was because she had to be here.

There were those little moments that sparked to life on their own and made him think about what could be. The dinner that had been interrupted by a terrorist attack, a few stolen seconds in the back of an old smuggler’s shop, the time in the engine bay they hadn’t spent doing any engineering. Yet knowing she hadn’t made the choice to be here, with him was always there.

He wanted that moment to come. But he also didn’t. It was her choice in the end and it might not go the way he would want. Not that he wouldn’t try and convince her otherwise. In the end there was always a point where he would have to respect her choice and stop fighting and she could probably disappear from his life and never be found again.

“I didn’t. Have a place back then. I guess I didn’t want to go back home when I was on Eriadu and didn’t really have anything to spend my wages on so...yeah. It’s got a lot of glass which isn’t good for security. On the other hand it’s quite isolated on the beach. You can probably unplug the holonet cable that goes to a box out front. Otherwise I suppose we do the planning in here.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]“Oh.” I see. The reply was soft, quiet, contemplative. It was laden with curiosity as much as indecision. Kaile felt herself shift her weight from her right foot to left. Isolated on the beach? So it was a beach house? How long had he had it? A voice told her that she bet it was real nice; Asmus enjoyed nice things. Back on the Quinn it was evident that he had a finer taste of things. It showed with all the fine clothing he enjoyed showing off and buying. That was a trait he hadn’t lost in the five years since from the way he took to shopping for a sweater back at their last mission. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Well. Then yeah, we should go over what there is now.” what else was there to do but that. Not like she could avoid it. It was part of the preparation for her to fit into her role. Kaile had to make sure she had everything on hand to make this as safe as possible. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]If only she didn’t have to mull over how nice it was to wake up in Asmus’ arms through it…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A hand came up to rake her fingers through her hair. She’ll need to dye it again. It was part of the procedure. What was left of the strawberry blonde hair that was just coming back would soon be gone. Janes didn’t know that yet. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The part was to make herself insignificant and forgettable. Funny, that the Wraith’s reputation and hedonistic lifestyle is what was going to make it easier for her to slip into it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Guess… I’ll just get the files then.” which was all of a red datastick, encrypted for her to use and upload while they went through what they needed to do. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

The conference space had been given some token upgrades by the team on the Subversion. Mostly it was software changes to harden the holographic table against intrusion as well as some planning apps uses by the SIS. His own SIS terminal looked just like a commercial one, but with a hidden software container with the sensitive information. Likely nothing as secure as what Kaile had access to. He took a seat at the conference table. It still brought him pleasure to have stolen such a fine ship from such an awful person.

The expensive artwork had been stripped from the master suite to be auctioned through black markets. That would have been the fate of the entire ship if Asmus hadn't hastily requisitioned it. He imagined Amagenar’s bald head bobbing in rage and smiled as he started working. At the very least, he had the memory to soak up what they needed to know.

He stopped with a deliberate placement of his terminal back on the table. It was always going to be him to try and bridge the gap between them first. Perhaps it had been the hesitance he'd sensed as soon as staying in his house came up. It was his way. Sometimes he said things that upset her, other times they made her smile. A lifetime of not fully considering other people's feelings and an innocence that had always been at his core meant he didn't try to tactically steer the right course with people. He was just unashamedly himself.

“I know you probably already know but I just want to say it: I didn't conspire to some agenda to make this happen. But if I do get to steal any moments of your time, just for us, I'll gladly take them.” Moments like those she kept letting him take, he thought to himself. Because he was certain that she loved him, but couldn't bring herself to admit it.

“Oh not Randell Tarkin,” he said as a familiar face splashed across his screen. “He's a disgraceful bigot.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Why did he have to say such things?

Asmus always had a way of being able to just catch her off guard. Not just by his words but by how genuine he was with them. There was no sly cunning to his gaze; just pure honesty and truth in the confession he gave. It wasn’t one what Kaile was unfamiliar with, but it also evoked a flutter in her heart.

Just as quickly as he said it, his expression gave a twist of distaste and the dark slash of his brows shot forward at the image of the Eriaduian male upon the screen. He had a large hooked nose, pale watery eyes, and pock mark scars from a troubled youth. Not that it mattered with the amount of money his family drew in from shipping and trade.

“A familiar face, I take it?” Kaile inquired, using that opportunity to move towards the files instead of allowing herself to think about what the Wraith had said. At the very least she hadn’t attempted to take a seat across the way from Asmus, and instead sat beside him. Both a desire to remain close as it was a necessity to go over their files.

Oh what an internal struggle the agent place herself in when she over thought it all.

 

[Trextan Voidstalker]

She didn't run away. He took that as a good sign. With Kaile it seemed as if that has been the mark of success for the last few weeks. He tried not to think about seeing her in the infirmary. She had wanted nothing more than for him to be out of her sight and it had been heartbreaking. In the hours after he had written his apology and almost given up. There was no way he could force the decision upon her. He came to believe - and still did - that she did want to be with him but was torn on the matter in a way he didn't understand. The echo of that pain was washed away as he remembered many-face Kaile and her wrath crumbling under his childish grin.

“Yes. He's a noble really, but on the lower rungs of the Tarkin ladder so they've been trying to marry him into a wealthy merchant family. Problem is he thinks he's too good for that and has a habit of spouting over rather extreme views. Probably worth seeing what circles he moves in now.”

The implant uploaded data from the terminal. He could see a little progress meter as the personnel files were uploaded ready to be presented any time he needed them.

“Huh,” he muttered. She would see him looking towards the wall in a slightly vacant way. “Got to get used to this before the first ball or I'm going to have to turn it off.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

It was easy to tell herself that all she had to do was be professional and go over the documents. Nothing but go over the material and get his input on those Asmus knew about. However, it was another matter entirely when he was sitting beside her, leaning back against his chair with that carefree manner of his. One knee slightly propped up while the other extended out, the profile of his gorgeous face presented to her as he did his best to get used to the implant.

There was a small lock of hair that was curling by his temple. His hair wasn’t as long as it used to be but it was in that odd in between stage where it was shaggy enough to warrant a cut. The thought of leaning forward to brush it back made her fingers tingle. It was only Asmus’ wayward comment about getting used to the overlay HUD that managed to draw Kaile’s attention back to the screen in front of her.

“Yeah… took me a bit. Comes to be second nature after a while.” her fingers went dancing across her datapad, bringing up an anxious beat to keep them busy. “Good for checking on things quickly though.”

Like Spacebook.

“Especially with both eyes.” her finger came up to motion to her face. A tiny tidbit more about her. Another kernel of information.

Turning towards him, Kaile couldn’t help but study him. The next moment she found herself asking aloud before stopping herself, “So why did you get it?” she meant the implant of course.

 

[Asmus Janes]

He turned towards Kaile at the question and he smiled just for the sight of her. It caught him off guard from time to time still. That she was here and connected to his life again. The rogue had been oblivious to the attention she'd been paying him as he tried to wrangle with the implants.

Despite his optimism with each passing year the notion of seeing her again had been consigned to fantasy. The galaxy was too large, he told himself. A million worlds with a million places to look on each. Asmus reached out and placed a hand against her elbow.

Fantasy made real.

Every day he tried to maintain a professional air, but every night he grew more possessive. He had held her tight and whispered that he was hers. She didn't speak as much, but she kept trying show him the truth despite her hesitance.

“Oh, my house?” He asked as he snapped back to the present. “No, the implant, right. It's actually to link up to the ship,” he explained as he took his hand back. “I've got noises in each ear, too many displays and haptic pads strapped to my arse cheeks and shoulders. A direct connection to the ship just takes away that bottleneck. I tried it in the sims and it's going to take some flight time,” he admitted. He figured that would come more naturally than actually controlling the interface when disconnected.

“Did you have yours back when we first met?” He asked. The question crossed a line. Bridging the gap between past and present that they were supposed to indulge at night, not by day.