Private Sunrise to Sunset - Epica

[Niki Priddy]

Location: Epica
Objective: Have Fun
Weapons: "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PGEM-FAAl, Tinfoil Hat Band, Absorbelt
Accessories: Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, Coal Nail Polish, Transition Prescription Glasses
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist with Synthetic Crewmembers
Tags: Dominik Borra

Time spent with Dominik had been something entirely new to Niki.

Even past times with friends had not made the same impact on her as he had. The small things she had always seen others do from afar and never paying much mind to it. Thoughtful messages in the strange hours of the morning.

Losing time with those messages until the sun had crept from behind Emberlene to pass through the viewport of her room.

And his continued presence in other ways. All seemingly tiny when viewed separately. A small touch when nerves struck. Quiet reassurance when she shrunk away in large meetings. The personification of an entirely different being she had played at with her paranoia during Zerø's continued existence.

The acceptance of what was behind that facade when it had suddenly been pulled away.

They'd met for meals often enough one or the other could make an order for each other in confidence. And usually shared a picture of the menu when needed.

Similar to her own, his work kept him on odd hours. But it never stopped the messages being sent and her tense waiting to see a reply. She was thankful for the myriad of hearts throughout her system as she waited for him by the entry of the Stun tag building she had found on Epica.

Split into two separate areas for youth and adults, it brought her back to a time when an old friend had prompted the idea to use it as training.

Now just a simple desire to enjoy it for what it was.

A game to be enjoyed.

There wasn't a pressing need to use it as a front for weapons practice or tactics. Granted that aspect would come to light no matter what given the spots of training she had been given.

The memory of Dom sharing his knowledge on the topic making her smile.

For as much as his line of work put him through the ringer, the confidence in his teaching made her watch a bit more intensely.

An alert sounded on her datapad, the Queen Mother informing her of the ships crew entering Low power mode after completing their alloted duties for the time being. Three selections had set about their other routines, pocketing the datapad into her jacket before looking around.

"I wonder if they have milkshakes around here." An idle wonder coming to life behind the pink tint of her lenses.

 

[Dominik Borra]

"We could go look for some," Said Dominik, appearing seemingly out of nowhere from behind a passing speeder. "if you want. Or we could find some afterwards?" He was dressed a little more casually than his normal suit. He had a plain soft T underneath a leather jacket that was just roomy enough to allow another person to slip their arms in and share the warmth. Or to hide a few weapons.

The past time with Niki had been... He wasn't sure how to describe it. The constant messaging, the teaching, the meals shared together, even with his work taking him away at odd and inconvenient times, it made him smile more than he had in his life. He hadn't had someone this close to him ever, and the only person who got somewhat close tried to kill him a while back.

But Niki wasn't some highly trained warrior, she was a woman with a gorgeous and, sometimes terrifying, mind. She joked, she laughed, and made him feel whole. Grounded. Connected to the world. And very, very happy. Though they hadn't gotten too far in their relationship. Today he was going to change that.

"Consuming dairy before getting stunned isn't a good mix."

 

[Niki Priddy]

Location: Epica
Objective: Have Fun
Weapons: "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PGEM-FAAl, Tinfoil Hat Band, Absorbelt
Accessories: Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, Coal Nail Polish, Transition Prescription Glasses
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist with Synthetic Crewmembers
Tags: Dominik Borra

Her idle wonder turned into startled squawk as Dom appeared from thin air. She had a fething decent idea for what his work involved given how easily spooky he could be. Blinking a few times to make sure it was actually him and not just an illusory image that had appeared.

"After. Running on a full stomach has never been appealing." Her assessment of such an idea having long ago formed after a misadventure on a resort planet during a government manhunt.

A truly distressing time.

The comment about dairy and stunning giving her pause however. There was a great number of variables and ideas that she had pondered, thoroughly tested, and even conducted long term trials on. But the effects of dairy and Stun functions had never been among those idle curiosities.

And her face clearly expressed the sentiment with a healthy blend of horrified fascination.

"That sounds like there's a story behind it." Once he got close enough she would in fact snake her hands into the space between jacket and shirt. "Share it please. This could be handy later."

She definitely wasn't thinking of testing it out.

At least not on herself.

 

[Dominik Borra]

He loved the feeling of her arms around him, in his coat. His hands moved to her lower back, feeling her warmth. She was so close, those beautiful eyes looking up at him, her mouth... He almost leaned down to kiss her, but remembered the paralyzing lipstick that she often wore. She might have it on now. He'd make that call later, after he figured it out or not.

The story... "There was a time..." He trailed off a little, looking elsewhere in slight embarrassment. "I had to drink a whole carton of dairy to prove I was human, and not another species that couldn't handle the stuff. Then the guy stunned me, and I woke up covered in vomit. I later did the same thing to another guy, and he had a similar reaction. Though I do think that it shortens the average knockout time. Haven't done tests." He gave her a trying smile.

"Think we should go inside and have some fun?"

Niki Priddy

 

[Niki Priddy]

Location: Epica
Objective: Have Fun
Weapons: "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PGEM-FAAl, Tinfoil Hat Band, Absorbelt
Accessories: Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, Coal Nail Polish, Transition Prescription Glasses
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist with Synthetic Crewmembers
Tags: Dominik Borra

Warmth was a wonderful thing, and it didn't hurt when he looked down at her. Close enough that she didn't dare move. If she'd had her eyes active she wouldn't have to wonder about his pause. But the wonder made things fun.

He began to explain, and looked away.

Her eyes wide with realization that this wasn't just a witnessed event. The explanation drawing out a smile that fought against her will to laugh. She'd heard about strange bullchit tests like that. Had wondered about using them.

It seemed they worked at times.

The mention of time being knocked out shortened, and her own wonder about it began to form. Was is only dairy products that shortened the duration? Was it a different aspect of the dairy enzyme that acted on the potential or just speculation?

A certain Corellian came to mind about testing the idea as he mentioned heading inside.

"Beats standing outside on a day off. But you have to keep my hand warm." She grinned, offering one and sliding the other into a pocket.

Without much delay she led the way inside, even making a small tug of war game on the way in. Dom wasn't a repulsor driven droid, but she could certainly give him a run for his money on the matter.

The cashier looking between them with a silent speculation in the form of two fingers presented in their direction.

"Two please." Came the nodding agreement as she glanced around to see other couples. Even a small group of males that were intently looking over the Stun blasters.

By their mock paramilitary gear they seemed to enjoy the Stun tag game.

"Not too serious." Came the muttered warning to Dom as she stared sidelong at him.

 

[Dominik Borra]

He noticed how interested she was in his story and, knowing how her mind worked, it wasn't focused on how embarrassing it might have been to experience it. She was probably cooking up tests to make something that could shorten stun time. Dominik always chalked it up to more organic material being in the body, but couldn't really say anything beyond that.

She offered her hand, and he smiled as he enthusiastically took it, his fingers interlacing with hers. As always happened when he entered a room, he checked around him for sightlines, exits and entrances, windows, people, and where people may be hiding. It happened subconsciously at this point, manifesting in nothing more than quick glances around the room. The guys in paramilitary gear seemed like fans, for sure.

"Not too serious." Came the muttered warning to Dom as she stared sidelong at him.

He slowly turned to her, smiling back. "Awh, I thought I could show you how I like to work."

 

[Niki Priddy]

Location: Epica
Objective: Have Fun
Weapons: "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PGEM-FAAl, Tinfoil Hat Band, Absorbelt
Accessories: Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, Coal Nail Polish, Transition Prescription Glasses
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist with Synthetic Crewmembers
Tags: Dominik Borra

Taking what she guessed was gear, she had almost popped the disposable mouth guard in when she looked at him. Mischief slowly growing behind her eyes before she glanced back to the group. Keeping the carbine style Stun gun they'd been given for the event close to her chest with a sigh.

Looking back once more to him with a tiny shrug.

"Don't make them change their pants." She knew enough about his work to not ask questions. Like how he had learned some things. And Matthew had made a few less than clever hints about it. Shaking herself from the thoughts as their guides separated them into two groups.

The paramilitary group had an extra bringing them to 8 in total numbers, but their extra didn't seem entirely casual by their demeanor either. Their own group had 9 people including them. And aside from Niki and Dom, she figured only three others were really prepared for the mock fight ahead of them.

They moved into a low light area, set up into a mock urban combat area with partial and full cover zones. A number of choke points and corners dotted the large interior. All painted in a dark purple matte color to make it difficult to judge what was and wasn't a wall to the unprepared.

Even telling Dom to take it easy, she couldn't help the slight competitive urge, pressing the hidden button beneath the skin behind her ear.

Eyes slowly shifting to the amber color as she pocketed her glasses into their hard case. If Dom looked her way, she'd shrug and offer an explanation, otherwise staying quiet as the countdown began.

"Don't want to break them."

 

[Dominik Borra]

"Don't make them change their pants."

He pursed his lips. "That was going to be the fun part. Ok, no pants changing." He pocketed the mouthguard and collected the provided gear. Carbine style, not that easy to hide. The lowlight and the matte paint would make it difficult to see in any case.

Their opponents were military fanboys, maybe a couple of actual veterans. He could expect routine training, perhaps a bit rusty and the one or two that would break formation in order to rack up their own body count. But he also had 8 others to rely on, including Niki. He was more used to fighting alone, what to do...

Thinking of Niki, he watched her turn her eyes Amber and put away her glasses. The color would stand out, but he was interested to see what she could do. She had never shot anybody for real, but this was a game. "You're gonna make them change their pants with those eyes." He smiled. "Got that paralyzing lipstick on too?"

 

[Niki Priddy]

Location: Epica
Objective: Have Fun
Weapons: "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PGEM-FAAl, Tinfoil Hat Band, Absorbelt
Accessories: Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, Coal Nail Polish, Transition Prescription Glasses
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist with Synthetic Crewmembers
Tags: Dominik Borra

She grinned at his comment.

Pleased to know that there wouldn't be any sudden ejections due to a biohazard issue on the course. And at best a slip hazard around a strange corner.

The Cheshire grin that formed at his next observation was anything but mischievous.

"Little less harmful to the ego than needing to change underwear in the middle of an amusement park. As for the lipstick..." She chuckled to herself, earning a few glances that changed to stares from those around them. "Degenerative eye condition. Had to turn my peepers on."

Reassurance to those around them she wasn't actually what most had come to associate those golden colored eyes with.

"We'll see how easy they scare. And maybe I'll let you scare them a bit more. And maybe how scared you are." The grin widened, leaving him to wonder about the lipstick as the buzzer sounded, her head tilting forward as their group broke into three separate entities.

They stood out even more now as they were the last group, left by themselves as the others moved away.

"You want the corners, or want me to pie them?" She held her carbine with more confidence now. Revy was heavier than this toy, and she wasn't worried about actually harming folks. She'd of taken off the gloves if they'd been on her hands.

 

[Dominik Borra]

She didn't really answer the question about the lipstick... Fine.

The buzzer sounded and their team moved away into the dim light. He could go as well, fade into the black and be a ghost to terrorize the other team.
"You take point, I'll cover you and take corners." He shouldered the weapon and moved closer to her, glancing down at her with a smile. He was here with Niki, and while she trained a bit and could handle weapons fine, this would be the first time he would be able to see her 'in-action'. "And maybe you won't know I'm watching."

Niki Priddy

 

[Niki Priddy]

Location: Epica
Objective: Have Fun
Weapons: "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PGEM-FAAl, Tinfoil Hat Band, Absorbelt
Accessories: Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, Coal Nail Polish, Transition Prescription Glasses
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist with Synthetic Crewmembers
Tags: Dominik Borra

Shaking her head at his last words, she couldn't help the single snort as she placed a hand forward on the barrel. It wasn't going to get hot and even with how little recoil the thing had it would help her stabilize.

"Don't get too distracted." She teased, moving ahead of him. A slight dip in her stance as she widened her arms and leaned into the weapon, rudimentary and not nearly as smooth as most trained people could manage.

Her eye fixed down the sights as she swept into a short hallway, checking behind before making a sweeping motion into the main pass. A large box made of pallets toward the corner holding her attention as something flickered through the wall.

Lurching backward and avoiding a Stun ring that passed through an open window.

Upsetting her balance and ending up on her back as someone rounded the box at the end. She had time to process the sight however, landing on her side and low as the weapon jostled in her hand while the enemy fixed his aim. Expecting a standing target as their weapon swayed before beginning to point down.

Her own barrel shifted, unable to use sights but angling the weapon was a more familiar thing now. Her eyes narrowed, the sight of an amber glow making the enemy pause as she squeezed the trigger.

All the while steps along the outside wall drew closer to the other side of the wall where Dominik would have been.

The blue ring seemed to wiggle in the air, surprise still painted in the eyes of the first target as she let her eyes widen, and watched them recoil at the stare. She rolled as her own Stun ring began to close in on its target, pushing against the wall with a foot as she turned and tried to put manage the carbine in preparation for the one coming around the corner.

 

[Dominik Borra]

"Don't get too distracted." She teased, moving ahead of him.

Being behind her, it was a tad difficult to not be distracted. The low lighting helped. He shouldered the weapon more elegantly than she did, and got into his 'business mindset'. He kept his head away from his rifle, keeping it in a ready position. Niki was looking down sights right away. That cut your field of vision and tunneled your attention with the benefit of being ready to aim and shoot. But when you shot enough weapons your whole life, you don't need sights to aim. As they moved his eyes were up and scanning, subconsciously mapping what he could see.

A surprise bolt tore through a window and Niki was fast enough to dodge it, ending on the ground. Dominik spun around, putting Niki behind him. She could do her best against these guys before he stepped in to help her out. Plus he wanted to see just what she could do.

Paramilitary guys would use basic tactics, like flanking and creating a killbox. They wouldn't want to completely surround the enemy and create a crossfire, so he only had to worry about a rough 180-degree arc. Add in terrain with doorways and windows, it narrowed down their possible locations significantly. Another benefit of the arena was everything was practically built on stilts. It was hollow beneath the panels they stood on, which made footsteps much easier to hear and feel through the ground. He almost didn't even need to think about countering their training with that little advantage.

Footsteps neared him, some player eager to get into position. Dominik put his gun around the corner and fired off a few stun shots. Those footsteps became the sound of someone hitting the ground. Dominik angled a bit more towards the side of the arena, watching through a series of windows and openings one of the enemies stun one of his team members. He shot at him, but the stun ring was too big to fit and dissipated on the terrain. He scowled, and the enemy he saw shot back. Dominik stood still, knowing the other stun ring would also fail. It did, and the enemy cursed before moving on. Sharpshooting wasn't going to do much here.

Moving quickly but confidently, Dominik knew roughly the corridor the enemy would come through to get at him. He moved back to a nearby room. He heard another one of his teammates go down, and then the paramilitary guy walked by, headed towards where he had seen Dominik before and get behind him. Dom stepped out and shot the young man in the back, stunning him.

He should get back to Niki Priddy .

 

[Niki Priddy]

Location: Epica
Objective: Have Fun
Weapons: "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PGEM-FAAl, Tinfoil Hat Band, Absorbelt
Accessories: Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, Coal Nail Polish, Transition Prescription Glasses
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist with Synthetic Crewmembers
Tags: Dominik Borra

Even in the low light, the dark shape where Dom had been was gone. The vibrations in the floor confusing her at first as she stayed low, wondering while keeping the barrel pointed. Gaze spread for a second as a new target came around where Dom had been.

The one that had got their other team mates no doubt.

Her finger began to squeeze the trigger before another bolt wobbled into view from behind the shape. Highlighting them briefly as her eyes twitched a fraction at the sudden light display. A small sound escaping as she dug her elbow down and pushed off the floor.

A knee landed, righting herself as she held the weapon at low ready and shot a look to Dom.

The bolt had shown his face for a fraction of a second. All the more she needed to know that it was him behind her as she pushed forward and listened. Taking the corner, she stepped wide, barrel readied but weapon in low ready as she scanned the next space.

The first encounter had been a reminder about an old lesson.

Aiming down the sights was handy when you knew where the enemy was. Keeping your vision clear better when you didn't. Matt had shown this point more than once in their own mock battles involving similar weapons.

Nothing was present it seemed as another shot rang out off to the right side of the area. The echo bouncing along and making it seem far closer as she crept into the next space and watched the corners as best she could.

A dull sheen catching her eyes as the stun blaster in her hand aimed and let loose at the spot. Going a bit wide, it evaporated above the spot, illuminating a dropped stun blaster as a figure emerged from the far right wall and aimed.

They were leaned into the zone, their lower half pressed against the corner.

Niki ducked and went towards the right hand wall in hopes of pulling them further into the area.

 

[Dominik Borra]

Dominik regrouped with Niki Priddy , watching her back as she lead the way forward. She turned around a corner slowly, keeping her weapon low but ready. Good girl. She fired and ducked back to dodge a stun blast, running into him and spinning them both so Dom was near the corner. He couldn't help but smile and chuckle, grabbing her and standing her up straight to look at him. If not now, when else would he? Not like he had special words to say or anything.

He got closer to her, gently took her face in one hand, leaned down, and kissed her lips with his.

 

[Niki Priddy]

Location: Epica
Objective: Have Fun
Weapons: "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PGEM-FAAl, Tinfoil Hat Band, Absorbelt
Accessories: Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, Coal Nail Polish, Transition Prescription Glasses
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist with Synthetic Crewmembers
Tags: Dominik Borra

Dom appeared behind her as she rolled into cover, taking them both behind the cover as the shot wobbled harmlessly towards them and dissipated. His arm pulling her up.

The sudden corona of light accentuating his face as he smiled.

Her face shifting from surprise to exasperation before surprise appeared once more as he held her chin.

He leaned in and tested his question from earlier. Blinking once before leaning into it hesitantly. Mind still halfway on the attacker while remaining in the moment. The moment being broken by a sudden rush to the edges of thought as her stun gun shifted between them.

Eventually pulling back and leaning against the cover as she tried to process what he'd done.

"I. Ah. We. I mean-" Her mouth opening and closing in sync with the rushing thoughts as the sling kept the stun gun from dropping to the floor as both hands covered her face. "Go get him!"

She wasn't angry, and fear hadn't taken hold as she yelled from behind her hands. Unsure if he could see how flustered she was behind the cover of her hands and the dark shadows that reigned in the building.

The glowing amber of her eyes shining from between her fingers as she glanced up at him with nerves dancing along her skin. A hand batting at him.

"Go!"

 

[Dominik Borra]

She pulled away from him, but he could tell it wasn't out of disinterest. She was flustered, and they were in the middle of a battle. Maybe he just had been too used to fighting that doing what he did didn't feel too out of place. But there'd be time to follow it up after the match. She batted her hands at him to go get the last guy and he smirked before he opened his ears again.

The man didn't come down the long hallway towards them, the direct route. Doing so would be too easy a target, something Dominik was dissapointed by. He could get this game over with if he just came at them. But this at least gave him a decent excuse to leave Niki alone, as she wanted to be. He moved.

Dodging through some more corners and stopping in blankets of shadow, he listened for the footsteps of the last opponent. The maze was frustrating to say the least, thinking you might be able to spring around a corner only for it to be a dead end. But he spotted him finally and moved in.

His gun made a tiny rattling sound as he pressed it against the man's back, having melted out from the shadows in absolute silence. The man froze. "You're the last one left." Dominik said in his deep and quiet voice. "Just drop the gun and you won't have to get stunned like your friends."

"Holy-" The man swallowed. "I didn't even hear you man, who are you?"

"I have someone I want to get back to, so just drop the gun. Please." He did, and the match was over. Lights came on and Dominik made his way back to Niki Priddy in the small room to return their gear.

 

[Niki Priddy]

Location: Epica
Objective: Have Fun
Weapons: "The Klaive" - PDW
Equipment: PGEM-FAAl, Tinfoil Hat Band, Absorbelt
Accessories: Force Warning Necklace Pendant, Paralyzing Lipstick, Coal Nail Polish, Transition Prescription Glasses
Augmentation: PGEM-SAP "Amber Eyes"
Ship: The Tourist with Synthetic Crewmembers
Tags: Dominik Borra

Dom lingered, likely getting his sense of surroundings as she covered her face once more. Leaning against the crate as she listened to him move away. Left alone in mostly silence as her mind raced along without guidance.

He'd just- In the middle of- Had that been why he asked? Stars she'd been dumb to not figure that out. Matthew was going to tease her endlessly for being surprised. She would have been lying to herself in every way to say she hadn't enjoyed the kiss.

She sank to the floor, knees meeting elbows as she took a breath and stared.

He. He'd done it.

A long second of remembering before she kicked her feet in joy. An excited sound escaping as she giggled to herself in private. The sound of power caught her attention as the lights came on.

Blinking before being clued in that they had won. Pushing herself upright before doing a small victory dance as Dominik found her. Embarrassment alive once more as she shrieked at his appearance.

They returned their gear, her hands wringing together as they stepped outside into the crowds as she bumped him with her shoulder, her hand capturing one of his.

"Remind me to never dare you." A smile forming as she pulled him down for another kiss.

 

[Dominik Borra]

She shrieked again when she saw him again, and at how nervous she seemed he started to wonder if he had read things all wrong. He had thought them to be quite close and while she was shy, he thought that once that step had been taken she'd break out of it. They stepped out into the crowd and he was just turning to apologize to her when her hand grabbed his. Her other hand came up to grab him to pull him down, and he knew that look in her eye.

He kissed her back, her lips soft and sweet and warm against his own. His own hand came up to hold her head as he continued to savor her, smiling wider than he had in decades. "Dare me all you want." He whispered between kisses, his coat enveloping her as he pulled her closer.

Finally, someone to be with. To connect him to everything else, the galaxy. To strive for, to be better for, to keep him grounded. It had taken him a long time, but he never thought he'd find one. Late is better than never.

Niki Priddy