Welcome to the Jungle

[Kairon Rees]

[member="Malia Afredane"]

Kairon nodded slowly. It was true that Asmus had been taking to the small ship quickly. That did concern him. He had hoped the lad would be working towards taking up a post as an astronavigator on a Star Defender, not joining some snubfighter squadron. The casualty rates for those pilots where phenomenal. Perhaps, he mused, this was one of those occasions he could take his sister's side and use her as an ally. Would make a change.

"Agreed. If any make a fuss about wanting to take shore leave now for some reason, I know Jarrick has some bigger jobs lined up and could do with some more hands. The problem with the patrols is some of the routes I've previously taken have been sniffed out my military scouts looking for ingress points. Sometimes the patrols linger in those regions interdicting, or at least sweeping. As for battles, Kuat I'm pretty sure is fairly secure. However, Coruscant always seems to attract trouble.

"If we do get hauled over for an inspection, are we going to be seeing much trouble or is it just a delay?" he asked.

 

[Malia Afredane]

"Probably just a delay but I don't know. I have never been pulled before as an independent contractor. They can confiscate the cargo but I'm sure that the shipper would have a better time arguing their position than we will. Also, we don't fly colors so really they have nothing to gain from hassling us. Other than their sick enjoyment but the guys in the ships are the same as the Republic guys. Everyone just wants to get to the end of a shift alive."

At least that was how they always looked at it in the Republic Navy when she was running supply crews.

"I'm not bound to the death to make sure the cargo gets there and if the Sith want to say no, I'm going to say ok."

[member="Kairon Rees"]

 

[Kairon Rees]

[member="Malia Afredane"]

Kairon wasn't the most physically expressive individual, but Mal knew him well. She'd likely see the subtle tells as relaxed a little. His shoulders dropped slightly, some of the tension left his jaw.

"Alright then, I guess that's a plan. Do you want to send the message round? I can pop down to engineering and see if the team have any questions when you have."

Ever since he'd first joined Mal and her team on the Grace he'd started to move into keeping the boats flying. Even though there was a head if engineering, Kairon kept tabs on his plans and provided some oversight of the techies.

 

[Malia Afredane]

She nodded to him, her tablet in her hands already. The message didn't take long to get written and sent, worry creasing her forehead. She'd feel better if Rusty could be on this one but she couldn't wait. The sooner they got underway, the better as far as she was concerned.

Kairon went off to check on engineering, and she turned to the navcomputer and started to put in the systems, to check against the charts she had on file. She had only put two of the systems in when the sound of an astromech beeped behind her. She startled, unaware that anyone had come aboard. The mech whirred, his chirps animated. She looked down at him, her head crooked sideways when a small compartment flipped open and a datastick appeared.

"Where did you come from?"

Mal peered around, taking a step to see if there was someone else besides the droid. When she confirmed there was no one else in the halls, she bent over and took the datastick. The mech beeped and motioned towards the nav by swiveling his head at it. Mal inserted the stick and waited, as the computer immediately started to index the information. The droid whistled again, before a faint blue figure appeared on the metal decking.

::Greetings Captain Afredane. I hope you don't mind, I took the liberty of sending some new charts, and your new droid. This is Arnie. Take care and I'll be in touch.::

Sera. Of course. Having a new mech might come in handy. She looked down at him.

"Welcome Arnie. You're gonna have to bear with me, I haven't spoken droid in a long time."

[member="Kairon Rees"]

 

[Kairon Rees]

It wasn't long before Kairon returned. He offered a quick smile as he sauntered in and took a chair.

"A few of the younger ones and a couple with families decided to take up the offer, but most are milling it over. We'll have plenty of hands in engineering I reckon," Kairon replied. It hadn't been necessary to go down and talk to them in person really, but he liked to try and build constructive relationships with those he worked with.

He might have been a risk averse smuggler, but there had been very few who wouldn't trade with him. Keeping both sides happy was the key to a good trade in his mind, and the same applied to work.

"When did we get one of these models?" he asked, casting a quick glance at the astromech before activating the terminal next to him.

 

[Malia Afredane]

"There's a couple from the bridge that have taken the leave. It was bound to happen. I don't really think they have an aversion to Sith space so much as just wanting more time off."

Her crew had a few staple people who stuck with her through it all, then she had several people who stayed for a little bit and then moved on. It was the nature of the smuggling business. A lot of those getting into it were a bit transient with their lives. Being on a single ship offered stability, and some just wanted more excitement. Mal took as many legit jobs as she could.

"Skippy's replacement. Came with a gift I'm sorting out now."

[member="Kairon Rees"]

 

[Kairon Rees]

[member="Malia Afredane"]

Less requirement for them to be carrying an assassin droid on this mission, clearly. It was times like this when he'd have liked to have Jarrick around. Dependable, organised and an absolute daemon in a firefight. "Anything I can help with?" he asked softly. He'd enjoyed their trip on the Gracie. Sat watching the hyperlanes going past, her curled up against his chest. The crew on the Warden did - at times - resemble a professional outfit. Just didn't seem proper.

"I can manage anything from pre-flight lists, to route checks or even fetching caf and biscuits," he said.

 

[Malia Afredane]

"Caf and biscuits sounds amazing right now. I think the gift is a route. Computer is chewing on it."

At that mention, Arnie lurched forward and connected to the dataport on the NAV , his chirps and whirs animated and cheerful. Mal looked to the screen where the planets flashed up, overlaid with a couple old hyperspace routes. She whistled looking through them.

"These are a little old but provided they are sound, they are doable and help keep up on the safer side of the line for most of the trip. Thanks, Arnie. Much obliged."

The mech beeped at her and she chuckled at him.

"Yes, he's pretty handy. Why don't you head down to engineering and introduce yourself to everyone Arnie."

She looked at Kairon, as the mech spun around and raced off towards the back of the ship.

"At least, it's an extra hand helping the Warden run. I bet your paycheck he's been preloaded with the plans and the upgrades we already have."

[member="Kairon Rees"]

 

[Kairon Rees]

[member="Malia Afredane"]

Kairon shrugged, a smile on his face. “I’m never begrudge the engineering team another astromech. Perky little chap too. A welcome replacement for a psycho droid. Let me see about that caf!” Turning on his heel, Kairon headed back to the galley. His hair was tied back in a ponytail, as it often was when he went down to engineering. Once as a lad he’d pulled out a few inches of hair when he’d been sent down to work in the engine bay of the Bad Karma. Never again.

He returned a few minutes later, having decided on a tray with a selection of biscuits and two mugs. He did make a good caf. Sometimes he missed the simplicity of cooking for just a few on the Quin or the Gracie. He took a seat, knowing it wouldn’t be too long now before they headed off. He had the urge to stay close to Mal on this trip. Sometimes they went without seeing each other for a shift at a time. The ship was organised into two main eight hour shifts and two four hour night shifts. Sometimes they were like ships in the night passing each other. Perhaps it was the recent, if not unusual experience of being shot at together again, but he didn’t want to stray far right now.

“You think about the future much?” he asked quietly. Oh brilliant you’re in one of these moods. Might as well crack out a bottle of red whilst you’re at it. “I was thinking back two years. Didn’t imagine I’d be, well here,” he said, making a gesture of pointing to each of them and then waving at the ship around them. “I was just trying to look after mine, keep my head down and try to forget the crap I’d done. I think I mean to say, I think about where I might be in two years, but given the disparity between where I thought I’d be and where I ended up I wonder what the value would be. Right, any time you want to jump in and stop me rambling please do,” he finished. A smile graced his lips as he brought his mug to them.

 

[Malia Afredane]

She flitted around the bridge checking into all the stations to make sure the Warden was ready for a run. They were going to be a little short handed this trip, best to be as prepared as they could be at the outset. She lifted the mug off the tray, and grabbed a biscuit, popping it in her mouth before she took a sip of the caf to soften it up and wash it down.

She cocked her head over at him and listened thoughtfully but didn't respond just yet. Leaning against the main bridge controls, she mused a moment before she reached over and lightly hit the bulkhead door controls, which closed quickly and sealed them off from the rest of the Warden. She had a feeling this was not a conversation either of them wanted the crew to hear them talk about.

As much as it was run as a professional outfit, it was openly known that they were a couple. Sometimes, it caused problems with a crewman mouthing off a snide comment about how Kairon got his position but Mai and Asmus were usually pretty quick to correct the misconception. That or Mal just fired them off her ship.

"I've been thinking about a lot lately. What to do with the Lazy Riveter? Where are we going with the Warden? Does working for Schmidt and Rees make sense? I'm got a lot I'm pushing off just getting the day to day done. Why do you ask? What's making you think about the future?"

Dread. Like an icy hand gripping her throat, she mentally braced herself for the punch. What if he wanted to break up? Was he not happy, did he need something else, his own ship? Her panic mode kicked in going fast enough to put the fabled Falcon to shame.

[member="Kairon Rees"]

 

[Kairon Rees]

[member="Malia Afredane"]

Kairon might not have been able to read Mal through her poker face, but he knew when she'd put it on. She was concerned about why he'd suddenly brought the subject up. Couldn't blame her; he had rather dropped it from nowhere. It endeared him to her greatly.

"Probably because you nearly got shot again. Well last time you nearly got stabbed to death, but you get the idea. Look, Asmus isn't going to be my responsibility forever. He'll be joining one academy or another before long. Which leaves us and working out where we want to be."

He furrowed his brow as he pondered what to say next for a moment. "I never really thought I'd be a trader again, but we've been taking more and more honest work. And doing it well. I'm starting to think it's not that I couldn't be a trader, I just couldn't ever really go back to their world. It's your call, but maybe take work from them, but don't sell out? We can do this I think. But our way, not theirs."

The thought of not being with Mal through whatever came next hadn't really occurred to him. He looked nervous as he looked up at her with his bright blue eyes. This was her ship, not his. Had he spoken too strongly?

 

[Malia Afredane]

"I'd argue that he's not your responsibility now. He's an adult. He's got an employment contract with me. Maybe it's time to let yourself off the hook on that one."

She crossed her arms, an eyebrow arched at him with a knowing look. He was taking more on himself than he needed to.

"I had the same conversation with Anara. She asked me to send him home. I had to remind her that he's an adult. I swear you both will forever see that boy as a mischievous little kid and miss out on the fact that he's grown into a man."

She sighed and shook her head.

"I know I got shot at. I know it worries you. Legitimate work doesn't have to be Schmidt and Rees. We've been doing plenty of it as it is. So I'm not really sure where your apprehension over this is coming from."

She pushed up and pulled her hands free to take his face in them, her greenish hazel eyes meeting his.

"What's really going on, Kai?"

[member="Kairon Rees"]

 

[Kairon Rees]

[member="Malia Afredane"]

"I'm just in a funny mood," Kairon said. It sounded weak, but he had more to say on the matter. Kairon smiled softly, he brought one hand up and brought it to her cheek. His thumb traced the line of her scar. Kairon was suddenly blown away by how familiar her features were, how well his hands knew her and yet how easily he could still find his breath short when she became his whole world.

"But don't you see that's what I'm trying to say? I mean, this is your business not mine, so stop me if I'm out of line. I'm saying that I think you can make a run of this. Your way. Take a job from Anara if it makes sense, but on your terms."

His eyes turned down to a nearby console. Lights winked on and off as he failed to turn his jumbled thoughts into words.

"It's not like I didn't think we'd make it this far it's just...just I can see us now. A year, five years. Doing this. I know we're always going to be blaster magnets and all but...oh please stop me rambling and kiss me or something?"

 

[Malia Afredane]

She was more than happy to oblige him with a kiss, which seemed to ease him slightly. At least for the moment.

"I am making a go of it and I made it clear to Anara that anything I do is on my terms. Kai, do you feel feel powerless here? On the ship, in our relationship? Is there something I'm not giving you?"

Her arms had slid over his shoulders, to knit her fingers behind his neck.

"It sounds to me like you miss being in charge."

[member="Kairon Rees"]

 

[Kairon Rees]

[member="Malia Afredane"]

It was easy just to stop thinking with her so close. He didn't answer for a few seconds. He just caught and errant strand of her hair between two fingers and threaded it back behind her ear.

"A little. But then I have more people to boss around now than I did back then. And they tend to listen now, too," he said. His smile slowly receded as it dawned on him that she probably wanted a more serious response.

"I think what I'm trying to say is that...well...it was very difficult for me to let go and imagine shaking my life up so much. Now I'm here I find it hard to think of another way. We're not just smugglers, you didn't sell out to the business and yet we're making a real go of it. Does that...make any sense? Sorry."

 

[Malia Afredane]

"Yeah it does a little."

She chuckled, her hands sliding down from his shoulders to rest against his chest.

"Part of the reason I was looking at another ship to buy was to give you a bigger stake in what we're doing. Something that you can captain and I can not be in charge of all the time. But we can do that here on the Warden. After this run, what if you took over as captain for a couple months? I can focus on courier runs and scouting new business and you'd run the Warden."

There was a wry smile tugging the corners of her mouth.

"Sound like something you might be interested in?"

[member="Kairon Rees"]

 

[Kairon Rees]

[member="Malia Afredane"]

The penny dropped. A rare grin found his face, spreading from his mouth to the crow's feet around his eyes. His hands slid down to settle comfortably where he waist met the swell of her hips.

"Thank you," he said softly. It meant a great deal to him that she was both thinking so much on what would make him happy and that she'd trust him with the Warden.

He was silent for a few seconds, only expressing himself through a tightening of the grip on her waist. Looking for side to side he realised they were on the bridge, ready to set off but with the door closed behind them. He always picked the best times to try and discuss things.

"I'll do it," he said. "But reckon I'm better at closing a deal than keeping a crew organised. When you come back and the crew is beggin' you not to leave them with me again, I can follow up on some leads if you'd like?"

 

[Malia Afredane]

"Kai, you can do whatever you want. If you'd rather go closing deals and scouting business, then you can. I just want you to be happy."

One last brush of her lips across his and she broke away from him, her knotted fist hitting the door panel to open the blast doors that sealed off the bridge.

"First, go get everyone rounded up and buckled in. We've got stuff to deliver."

She winked at him and nearly tripped over Arnie who had been sitting outside the bridge. With a roll of her eyes and pat on his dome, she called him to follow her to the support systems. The Warden had a slight tick in the secondary life support system and she wanted him to investigate it before they had to rely on it.

[member="Kairon Rees"]

 

[Kairon Rees]

[member="Malia Afredane"]

Just as long as I'm near you.

He didn't speak those words. Kairon had never been particularly good at expressing himself. Perhaps that's why they often ended up in a muddle, or maybe that was because both tended to assume the worst. They were muddling through the notion of a long term relationship together. Yet so far they'd managed. And truthfully, when he stopped to think about it, every month he felt closer to Mal. It wasn't obvious, it was a slow change as he transitioned to this new world. It was only when he thought back that it was apparent.

Kairon stood there, an absent smile on his face, as he watched her go. When she was out of sight, it occurred to him that he'd been given instructions and was standing stock still on the bridge like an idiot. "Right, round up the troops, yes," he murmured to himself. He sauntered off into the ship, rubbing the back of his neck.

Now when he looked back at the time before Mal, it was hard to put himself back in those shoes. To be in his room alone with book and bottle. Though actually a bottle of red and some quiet music would be nice this evening, he thought to himself.

"Right," he called as he reached engineering. "Have we worked out the shift rota for who we've got left?"

A middle-aged gran that worked down here checked over his table. The crew worked the typical four shifts. Two eight hour shifts and then two small four hour night shifts. "Yeah we can manage it with what we've got."

"Good stuff, right everyone to their posts then, we're going."

Everyone seemed pretty content with that and got to their business. Kairon went to find Mal. He'd ensured they were on a broadly similar shift pattern for once and if anyone wanted to argue about that, they were more than welcome to try.

 

[Malia Afredane]

The route outlined by Arnie lead them up through Alliance space, before they crossed the western front of the One Sith and turned back towards the Core, with their heading set for Byss. The crew didn't seem to mind the first bit of the route, as the Alliance kept the shipping lanes open to all. They did not meet any Sith patrols crossing the spindle of Sith space, but as they drew closer to the Core, the mood onboard became somber.

The One Sith had not restricted trade within their borders for consumer goods, and indeed they sought to keep their wealthy patron happy with exotic goods from the galaxy over and so vessels like the Warden and shippers like Mal were allowed to go about their business however, with those passages across the heart of their empire, they levied heavy fines for perceived slights.

They made a successful delivery at Byss and had logged their next destination as Coruscant, the ecumenopolis the capital of the dark nation.

Mal stood on the bridge, watching the worls of space beyond the windscreen, her stress so heavy it had settled around her temples like a vice and she could not seem to dull the headache.

"Watch your decant, I want to make sure we stick to the book they gave us at Byss. No deviation from their procedure."

Kessa nodded, and checked her notes again. She wasn't usually sitting in the pilot's chair but since they were shorthanded, she had agreed to rotations on the bridge.

[member="Kairon Rees"]