Satellites

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]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. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]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. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“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.” [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Like Spacebook. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Especially with both eyes.” her finger came up to motion to her face. A tiny tidbit more about her. Another kernel of information. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]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. [/SIZE]

 

[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.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile gave a swallow, feeling her throat bob a bit while the warmth of Asmus's hand on her elbow lingered long after he pulled his hand away. Without realizing it, her upper torso had automatically drawn itself just a little bit closer. At this distance, she could see the tiny crows feet at the corner of his eyes. Laugh lines really. Brief marks against slightly tanned skin. How often had he come back to Eriadu to that beach house?

Kaile could imagine him laying down on a beach. The sun high up in the sky, the sound of crashing waves, the scent of salt in the cool breeze. The Lorrdian could imagine him happy like that. A small silver lining at that. Nevermind that the thought of it also brought a tinge of bittersweetness with it.

"Hmm?" she began, eyes widening a bit. That dark head gave a duck, prompting the fringe of her bangs to veil her eyes from the Wraith for a moment. Perhaps in insecurity? Her fingers gave a nervous rap against the table, playing a tune. A distant melody.

"Oh." back then? On the Quin? Right hand came up and tucked stray strands behind her right ear.

"Yeah. I've had 'em for a long while now."

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Huh,” Asmus seemed more amused that concerned by this revelation. “I hope…” no one has to review mission recordings, he thought. Someone would have had to watch his younger self make a fool of themselves convincing Kaile to come back to his ship. And then passing out.

“Never mind. Questions.” He turned back towards his datapad and tried to place the melody she was drumming out. His hand came up and tucked away that stray lock of hair Kaile had been considering a few moments ago.

A look of intense concentration crossed his face. Finally a timeline appeared on the datapad highlighting the main events.

“So the people at these talk way too much. But generally only to those they know. I figure it might take a few events to get close to the right people but...alright am I allowed to ask this: they say people who use the Force can read minds?” He turned towards Kaile with his head tilted towards one side. It was asked in such an innocent manner it might have sounded foolish. It seemed an important thing to know for the mission. Then again, his role was just to make introductions and linger in case she needed help. He was never supposed to have been involved in the last extraction as he had been in the end.

But it had been an adventure. Like the ones he used to dream of as a child.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]Asmus would rest easy that there hadn’t been someone reviewing those files. Kaile had the ability to active the datarecording stint at will. The whole lead up towards that particular chain of events ensured that Kaile didn’t go on recording everything at the time. Her heart had been broken and she’d been an emotional wreck just wanting to forget how much she’d hurt Kurt and the effect it had on her as well. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]But Asmus didn’t know that. He didn’t really know much about Kaile, the real Kaile, back then. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The warmth of his fingertips as they swept the hair behind the shell of her ear drew her attention again. He did it so nonchalantly, without thinking. A mere act of instinct. Chocolate brown eyes caught his profile, watching him as his brow drew tight in concentration. At least, until he caught the agent in another probing inquiry. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“It… I..” Kaile’s mouth drew open only to close. The tapping came to a halt, and she appeared a bit perturbed. Truth be told, Kaile wasn’t all that experienced when it came to the Force. She was good a few things [/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]yes.[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] Mind reading? Not quite. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“I reckon some can to a degree…” she began, shifting in her seat. “Or worse.” a reference to the story Asmus had told her before about that Dark jedi and how she’d played with his mind. Perhaps not the best time to bring up that she could play with someone’s memory as well. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]She shook her head.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Not what I can do though.” not to mention, having Bobo with her back then meant that she had no connection to the Force. She had been blind to it. Smothered like one would be with a blanket. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Oh well, might have made life easy if you could just peruse around the party until you found our suspect.” There was one man in particular they suspected of having contact with the First Order, but it didn't mean he has the stolen plans. The Tarkins were another possibility. Then two others rounded out the list. Quinlans, Tarkins, Felldons and Eonites. Everyone's favourite fascist apologists. Asmus didn't even need an SIS list to place them at the top of his expectations.

The memory of that dark day had slowly faded over time. Now that thought took the shine off his expression for just a second. Just a dull ache and then it was gone. An echo of an old pain.

“Vo thinks because of my position with Incom they might come my way. Try and get to me.” He knew how that could work. Perhaps lure him with wealth or just find he was for the cause. The latter would be a hard sell with his background, but other intelligence services had compromised officers before. Of course if they wanted to find embarrassing evidence and use it against him they would only need a brief discussion on his reputation to find out that would be quite difficult. Even video evidence would not shock his family at this point. And his SIS career had no public face to be tarnished.

“Sorry if it seems rude to ask,” he said tentatively. Was it like assuming a member of a species inherited stereotypical traits? As usual his mind was going off on a few tangents behind the scenes as he started to go over the files. “We'll need to go shopping.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

He was just curious, Kaile told herself, finding her gaze drift from the overhead datascreen over towards Asmus. Just like back at the Quin. Wide-eyed and just full of questions. So many questions. Even then, he had been sensitive enough to realize that there were just some inquiries she wasn't going to divulge. Much like now. The only difference being is that Kaile was very well aware that underneath that entrancing smile, lay the barely brindled inquiries the Wraith Commander desperately craved to speak aloud.

"It's fine," Kaile said in soft reply. Awareness was drumming through her body and getting louder. Another twitch of her fingers and the thrum began anew over the tabletop.

At the mention of shopping, the Lorrdian couldn't help the twitch at the corner of her mouth. He had just spoken about shopping for a dress not ten minutes before. He always appeared to gravitate towards it. Such a small thing, but a quality that had not changed in their years apart.

Why did she find it so endearing? Why such a small thing brought a flicker of joy as much as a dull ache?

"Of course they would." she began, focusing on his mention of his Incom connections. "They'd be itchin' to find some way to warm up to you either way." Asmus was the jewel brought out as bait. Kaile merely the observer to the play. Orbiting the scene but never truly participating. This was Asmus' world, not mine.

"They'll find ways. They always do." a little too close to home there. Kaile bit her lower lip, looking back at the names.

"What are their weaknesses? " came her inquiry, "Desires and likes?"

"What is their bait?"

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"The Tarkins still send their favourite children off world to imperial academies. They publically claim they're black bantha but everyone knows the truth."

He scratched the edge of his jaw thoughtfully. He managed to make himself look a little rough around the edges, but it was all as carefully controlled as it had been when he'd been clean shaven with long hair. He did slightly miss the long hair. Kairon didn't.

"I don't know enough about the others. With merchants in the absence of all other things it's credits. I've never played those games. I hated it. Seeing them all boast about the gains they'd made at the expense of everyone else. It all looks beautiful but it can be ugly under the surface. So I tend to stick with the superficial." He gave a shrug. He'd explained already enough if why he left that world. Chasing after credits his whole life had seemed such a tedious prospect.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

That term he used for the Tarkins brought a confused expression upon Kaile's face. The drumming of her fingers came to a halt, hovering just over the table top. "Black Banthas?" if it was some sort of slang or had a specific connotation, the agent didn't know it.

"What is that supposed to mean?" that brought up another point. Just how much she'll need to flash learn to learn about Eriaduian society, their traditions, norms, and the like? It was all normal procedure, but just a little bit more different with Asmus here. Her eyes couldn't help but follow the track of his fingers as he scratched his jaw.

Even just sitting there mulling over the Tarkins he was breathtaking to her. Such a silly thought was cast to the side when the Wraith brought up again his distaste of that particular world. It reverberated in the tick of his jaw and the motion of his brows. In his tone really.

"Credits won't do me much good." she'd murmur, giving a small sigh. Her hand came up and went to rub her cheek. "I'll just see what I can find with my access then. Reckon I can find out one way or another once we get to mingling."

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Asmus thought of Kaile in the thrift shop baulking at buying some clothes new from the shelf. That was going to be an interesting culture clash. Whilst he didn't want to play the game he still liked to have some nice things. Even on his wages on the Quin he had saved for clothes.

"Black bantha means the odd one out. It was sort of a way of saying they weren't responsible. I... Imagine it was said a great deal about me for a number of years. At least until my mother could start to claim credit for my medals.

"So...when we go and get your clothes..." His voice dropped a little as if he had something sordid to say. "...just don't ask about the prices and think about it being part of the cover. You'll probably need a few outfits for the season too."

He looked almost guilty as he confessed: "They won't have price tags and might cost...quite a bit."

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]Asmus went right back to talking about shopping for clothing, and while Kaile’s breath caught in her throat, it had less to do with the impending high price tags of dresses than it did with the close proximity of the scoundrel. Of course, the mention of price tags and just how much they would cost was sure to come back to the fore of her mind. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Ahh.” the Lorrdian’s mouth fell open only to close. If she had a stylus she’d likely start playing with it just to have something for her fingers to play with. A small grimace drew her lips. Asmus actually hadn’t been the first to mention this. Vo had told her there was an allowance for the necessity of the mission to fit into the role; didn’t mean that she still wouldn’t balk at it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“For the season?” she’d repeat a bit weakly as if the thought along was rather silly. While she was used to long-term undercover missions, just what did a ‘season’ mean?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“It shouldn’t be that many parties… should it?” a rather naive outlook but in that inquiry, Kaile’s expression was reminiscent of that of her younger self that was far more naive about such things. Again, she was reminded that Asmus came from a different world, and while the thought of fancy dresses and balls and dancing could make a younger version of her giddy, the more pragmatic side of her fell more in line to the doing just enough of what needed to be done.[/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

“Yes all the prissy little girls and boys get taken out shopping at the start of the season - generally the summer of events nearly every week - and dressed up and shown off. Fashions tend to change from season to season.” He didn't say it with any venom behind the words. It wasn't as if he hadn't been a young man with sleek hair and exceptional clothes known to be eligible within a few years. Pursuit of hedonism had seemed for more enthralling than political games.

If he'd been born a third child no one would have cared. But his parents had had plans for him. They hadn't come to fruition. Asmus' had grown since she had known him. He was used to leadership now, to taking a team of the best into impossible dangers and coming out. But in other ways he hadn't changed as much as Kaile perhaps had. He had lost people, but not in the same way.

“I will try and keep the budget down. They're not nobles; no one will mind if you switch up a dress with different accessories, but it would be odd to have the same outfit every week. I don't know how many weeks you think it will take to get towards the bottom of this.”

It wasn't really that much to go on. The names of some contacts on Eriadu who passed on the plans. They wanted the source that was doing the dealing and ultimately the mole in the Alliance or Incom.

A beep came from the cockpit. Jay’s eyes lit back up.

“That was quick,” Asmus said in mild surprise. The sleek ship could shift in realspace and hyperspace. If he hadn't owned a house ha happily could have lived here for weeks. He slid his datapad towards Kaile.

“Main suspects, families I'm most acquainted to that are close to them,” he said pointing to two lists. He could arrange mission information these days too. “Got to go up front. Port control can be a little...testy here.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

The sliding datapad came to a stop just alongside Kaile's fingertips. They rose, arching up only to curl back down upon the tablet, giving a little drumming beat before pausing. It was interesting, the more she spent time with him the more she just wanted to keep hearing him talk. Asmus enjoyed conversation, but he was so enthralling when he would spin a tale or explain a story. Then again, maybe it wasn't so much the content as much as just the timbre of his voice. The way his entire face could light up with a broad spectrum of expressions.

It was hard to not look at him. Like a moth to a flame, it was getting easier and easier too. Nevermind all the ruckus of his stature and position. The beep from the cockpit was a small relief to the thoughts that plagued her mind and wore down her walls.

"Okay," Kaile replied the singular word weighted in infinite possibilities and meanings. Her fingers would curl against the datapad, feeling the energy humming through it. It was the same datapad she'd seen him use before in their room. The one containing all the holofilms and holoseries that had them fall into each other again. The bridge that had brought him closer to her on that Observation room deck.

"I'll get on with this. Shouldn't take me long."

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

They slammed back into realspace side on to his homeworld. It didn't matter. The view ahead was enough to confirm where they were. At least to a few hundred lightyears anyway.

He knew these stars. These were the ones he had shared with a few billion people. And not just one other lost, lonely soul.

Asmus brought the Solaris around and Eriadu shifted into view. He was not looking. His gaze had fallen to the chair beside him. There was an absent-minded grin on his face as he remembered trying to reach a hyperspace lever without tipping her off his own chair.

A nice warm blanket and some time alone. A few quiet confessions, some guilty amorous behaviour and nearly being caught by Kairon. His uncle, oddly, had been quick to notice his atypical behaviour.

They'd been given four days but back then he had thought he could have filled an empty year with just her company.

Asmus began the tedious business or arranging his approach with Flight Control. The Solaris slipped into the Atmosphere. Shields, repulsors, dampeners and engines made this one of the smoothest rides he'd ever known. He brought the ship in low and glided along the coastline with the ocean on their left. Just in case she came to join him.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Asmus wouldn't have to wait long. The quiet hiss of the hatch behind the Wraith was the first clue to her presence. However, Kaile didn't slip into the chair behind him immediately. Instead, she stood at the threshold, watching him. Perhaps one could say she was observing the coastline. It was beautiful. The sun was rising and it cast pink and amber lights across the crashing waves. Eriadu was known for its industrialization. While it possessed a breathable atmosphere, a large part of the grey world was industrialized. The fire and brimstone that was left in the wake of the First Order's destruction didn't do much for it.

However, there was an added interest by the nobles and the merchant class to reconstruct their world. It was almost a patriotic duty really. The end result brought with it advanced pollution gathering stations provided by Arceneau Trade, Pharma Tech, and many others. Here they were able to purify and slowly bring a refined balance to the industrial world.

Samples of this could be found in the scattered areas that were designated as protected botanical sanctuaries. Biomes artificially created to liter the landscape with green. The oceans were not spared in the planet wide commission to reface the planet with a new look. Which made all the more expensive a private home in such a setting.

Taking a deep breath, Kaile let the air fill her lungs. For a brief moment, she simply stood still, letting her brown eyes fall over Asmus. Watching him had always been a luxury, a small little joy at tracing his every move when he was in his element. She'd fallen in love with him back then. Seeing him now, arms moving to and fro, flicking toggles and curling around the piloting yoke brought it all back.

He'd come so far.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"This is where I come to avoid the world," he said. Asmus dipped the nose and gave the repulsors a touch more power so that she could see the isolated buildings along the coast. Each was different, maybe half a kilometer between them. Dropping their speed, the view vanished as he pulled back the nose and followed his instruments to land.

There was an almost guilty smile as he turned to face her. Every time he came here he felt some of his worries eased - not that he was a man to carry him far. There was another reason for it.

"This thing is a joy to fly. Not like the thrill of being on the edge in an unbalanced fighter. It's just smooth, effortless power." It wasn't his ship unfortunately, but it was today in his mind. A ship to themselves. A house to themselves. It beat a room that was barely big enough for one.

"Well, grab your bags," he chuckled. They were forty metres from the house on an open patch of long grass. The house itself was a square glass structure. Windows made to suffer the sea air whilst insulating the house. Four bedrooms and lots of open space. And doors that opened right out onto the beach front. They were a long way from the still polluted air of Eriadu's cities here.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

He wasn't lying. Asmus practically radiated the joy he felt in flying the Solaris. It was in the way that crooked smile went curving across his face. The tiny, little crinks at the corner of his laughing green eyes, those gold flecks as vibrant as ever under the growing light of the morning sun.

The impulse to wrap her arms around his shoulders and pull him close was there. So much so that Kaile brought her arms up to cross them across her chest, as if that would prevent her from taking the step forward and doing exactly what she was tempted to do.

"Ain't much but a bag," she added, leaning against the threshold. Her head came to rest against the frame, the strawberry blonde fringe tickling the tips of her lashes. "More for gear than anything personal."

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Bag then," Asmus replied with a shrug. Whilst she was keeping her distance and hands to herself to him she looked casual leaning against the door.

For the next few weeks he had to take everything he wanted and play it out as make believe. It all left him with mixed feelings at a time when he was already feeling confused. But they didn't have to put on an act when there was no one around.

The trip had been so short he hadn't even moved his bags to the master room downstairs. A few taps and the engines slowly wound down. Asmus stepped away from the controls and walked past Kaile. The lorridan would see the hesitation as he passed her. The way his fingers flexed and his jaw tensed.

"Coming Jay?" He called out.

The droids eyes lit up briefly. [I...have had a busy few days. I'm going to process for a while longer.]

The droid had told them that he had been left in the ship for months on end with only his fantasies to keep himself occupied. Asmus wondered if he was attributing human concerns to imagine the droid might have become a shut in. Something to worry about later.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

They hovered on that precipice there. One of many to come. Like a sigh held suspended in time. Moths drawn to a flame but unable to fully grasp that which they desired the most, held back by a web spun of fears and doubts.

"Reckon so," Kaile replied, quiet, tentative. Those brown eyes went drifting over Asmus only to flicker over towards Jay. While body language would not be so easily read off a droid, there was still a few tells. Most would say that a droid is just a droid, but they do pick up their own little mannerisms and quirks. Kaile was still getting to know a few of them, but she could see that there was some hesitance there when he previously was so eager to leave the ship.

"You sure Jay?" the Lorrdian inquired, probing.

[ Affirmative. A few processes to go through, that is all. ]

"Alright..." pushing herself away from the door, turning towards Asmus. Those dark eyes met gold-flecked green. Another suspended silent sigh. Kaile gave a swallow.

"Lead on then."

 

[Asmus Janes]

He knew what she looked like when she wasn't sure of herself. Real fear was different. In his mind he pictured her standing over. In his bones he had felt her change the world with the Force. But Kaile had been looking down at him in that hotel. For just an instant she had thought she might have lost him. And it had terrified her.

This ramp didn't even sigh, let alone hiss, as it fell away from him. Asmus was struck by a familiar air. He could taste the sea, but mostly he could taste home on that first deep breath.

Asmus took the steps down quickly, belongings thrown over one shoulder. He stepped out into soft ground. The long grass bound the sand and earth here into something the Solaris could land on. Each step towards his house was softer underfoot. Small lights on the ground winked on as he approached guiding towards what acted as the front door.

Asmus gave Kaile a warm smile. There was perhaps a little embarrassment in that look. He tapped a code and pushed in a little code card and the door hissed open. Asmus stepped into the wide open plan ground floor. From here he could see straight through out across the calm sea.

“Here we are,” he said, dropping his bag down. “I'm afraid food isn't being delivered for a few hours yet. Our...room is first on the right to the stairs. But maybe…” he turned towards her. There was an innocent , hopeful look in his eyes. “...we could walk down the sands a while before it comes?”