Private Wheel in the Sky

[Iskendyr Yvarro]

Iskendyr didn't know how to describe the feeling he had right then and there, but later when he was older... He could say it was the first time he had a crush. The first time of feeling a connection with someone, with her on his arm he led her to the TIE. At that moment it was as if the entire hangar had faded away, except for them. Guiding her up the rampart, he helped her into the canopy where the trainer's seat was located, while he climbed into the pilot's seat. Lowering the canopy he began engaging the maneuvering thrusters. "Not many of the blokes here know that I've been putting in extra practice, we've all gotta pass our trench run combat trials. So, when I can, I've been getting in extra practice and if anyone asks that's exactly what I'm doing now."

The TIE faced the hangar bay's exit and Iskendyr looked beside him to see Lily's face, and then with his attention on the controls. The TIE roared to life and with its iconic engine, launched from the hangar it dipped into the void and veered off around the old SSD. The teen flew the training fighter around the exterior. Maybe it was just him, and perhaps his aunt would say it was just hormones, but, "you look beautiful." His voice soft and smooth, he said it with confidence, his gaze shifted over to her just enough. Then his focus was back on the controls and the view of the stars around them.

Lily Rhodes ​

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Adrenaline rushed through Lily as the tie came to life, the scream of its engines sent a thrill tingling up her spine, the speed. Her face was alight with the joy and a small giggle escaped her. She'd never been in a fighter, she'd never felt anything as fast as this.

"you look beautiful."

Lily's head snapped round to look at him, brown eyes wide in surprise, crimson flushing her cheeks. "I...um..." she stammered words utterely failed her, her heart fluttered in her chest. She bit her lower lip again, warmth spreading through her as she smiled. "Thank you." Her eyes were fixed on him, drinking every detail in as his hands shifted over the controls with practised ease.

He had her, utterly caught in whatever net he'd just cast.

Iskendyr Yvarro

 

[Iskendyr Yvarro]

The roar of the engines, and the adrenaline rush certainly amplified all that Iskendyr felt at that moment. It would be a memory that he would hold onto for the rest of his life. How she looked at him, how her face flushed as she stammered. Iskendyr chuckled lightly, his heart feeling light and merry, an emotion he felt less frequently these days. He dipped his head and felt the warmth of color rush over him, "you're most welcome, Lily." His attention on piloting he pushed the TIE forward.

It seemed to glide, float even along the top of the hull. A safe enough distance that she'd be okay, and close enough that as he made his way around he'd be able to buzz the control the tower. He caught the way she bit her lower lip, and quite honestly, Iskendyr wanted nothing more than to make sure that she was cared for. It was a moment that the teen wanted to last forever, "as promised, your tour, m'lady." He said with something of a rogue-ish delight, "now then, let's turn and how about we buzz the boys in the tower, what do you say?"

Lily Rhodes ​

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily had completely forgotten why they were out here, so caught up in the moment, in the way the colour crept up on his face. She tore her eyes away with reluctance, eyes widening at how close he was flying to the ships hull, her breath catching in her throat, not out of fear, but in awe of his skills and ability to maintain such smooth control despite the heat rising between them.


"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea, m'lord." she reflected his playful tone, settling back into her seat proper to avoid being jarred by the force that she knew she was about to experience as Iskey picked up speed. She gave him one sideways glance, the smile on her face unfaltering. If she could freeze this moment in time, capture the joy she felt and carry it with her everywhere, she would have done just that.

Iskendyr Yvarro

 

[Iskendyr Yvarro]

Moments like these are as fleeting as they arrive, Iskendyr laughed whilst she reflected his playful tone. The TIE picked up speed and raced across the stars. The black sea at their backs, whilst the iconic engine of the TIE screamed through leaving behind nothing but the after image of where they had once been. The tower contacted them, and Iskendyr responded simply with, "sorry lads, 'fraid I cannae 'ear you o'er da sound of me engines." The fighter buzzed by the boys in the tower the reverberations.

Whatever he had planned for the little flight, was quickly dissolving as he pushed the fighter under the SSD's belly. Brushing by maintenance drones that spun where they stood as he whipped the TIE back up and then... Slowed it down as he came back around toward the hangar bay where Pilgrim's Rest waited for Lily. "Hope your tour was a brilliant one, m'lady," Iskendyr's tone just as playful and light as it had been moments ago. The TIE fighter came back to the hangar where the requested parts were sitting on one cart, and a meal for the two of them on another.

Lily Rhodes ​

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily gasped as they buzzed the tower, the furious shouts coming over comms brought laughter and she couldn't help the squeal of excitement as he whipped past the maintenance droids. Her face was flushed as they slowed, the hanger coming into view. "That," she said twisting to look at him "was amazing."

As the TIE came in to land, she unbuckled herself. "Enemies of future Empires best be aware, if you're this good now, you'll be legendary when you're older. Iskendyr Yvarro, the best pilot the Imperials have ever seen." She ran a hand though her hair, chuckling, still riding the adrenaline high, before pausing and catching his eye. Colour flushed in her cheeks again. "You're quite something, Iskey, definitely not what i expected."

Iskendyr Yvarro

 

[Iskendyr Yvarro]

Iskendyr lowered his head a little, and laughed, "oh, a pilot is nice, and I imagine myself to be one but... not for long." The glint in his eyes spoke to his own ambitions, "but as I said, being the next Admiral is among my callings." His family, did want him to be just that and the title didn't sound bad with his name. Speaking of names... he wondered, well,... Whatever he wondered of the future left him the moment they stepped out of the TIE. "You're beyond words," spoken so softly it was almost above a whisper if it wasn't spoken so sweetly, "I know we've only just met, Lily."

He took a few steps down and helped her down the stairs to the hangar's floor. "I feel like," his words were lost, and his gaze lost in hers, "I feel like I've known you all my life." And he wanted to get to know her for as long as he breathed. "And I..." he decided against telling her anything else and looked over at the carts, "I uh, I see that the parts have arrived as have lunch." His hands clasped together whilst walking toward the cart, and when he made eye contact again. Iskendyr just smiled, he really couldn't help himself it was just a natural reaction, for him, she seemed to light up the whole place.

Lily Rhodes ​

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily was ensnared in him again, his words brought fresh colour to her cheeks, and stumbled on the stairs, her hand squeezing his tightly for balance, steadying herself. She paused at the bottom, loosing herself in his dark eyes, heart hammering in her chest, her hand still holding his even though she no longer needed it for support. "Iskey...I..." she trailed of as he withdrew, tearing his eyes from hers to settle on the food and the ship part.

The warmth that had been there shattered as he walked away. Lily followed, her eyes settling on the hyperdrive part and a sadness touched her heart. There time was coming to a close. Still, she could make the most of it. catching up with him, she slipped her arm through his reflecting his smile. "I hope, that after today, you can stay a part of my life, Iskey." Her voice was low and she gave his arm a squeeze. She knew everything he didn't say, how could she not, even without her telepathy Lily was in tune with the people around her.

It was madness, to feel the same, they were from such drastically different backgrounds it made absolutely no sense.

And yet...

It made all the sense in the galaxy.

Iskendyr Yvarro

 

[Iskendyr Yvarro]

By the carts, in the quietness of the hangar, Iskendyr looked at Lily. She wanted to stay in his life, and have him stay in hers. Without hesitation Iskendyr took his dog tags off and placed them in her hands. "I will always want to be part of your life, Lily." His honesty there in the sincerity of his words and as he took a step back, he grabbed lunch and placed them on the cart where the replacement part sat. "We've got a little longer still," Iskendyr mentioned as a way to distract from the inevitable. Isky's hand patted her arm, as he moved to get behind the cart.

He wasn't an engineer by any means but he'd taken a few courses and if Lily knew the ship well enough... Then it wouldn't take long to replace the part. In the meanwhile, Iskendyr searched himself for something to record his contact information so that Lily would always have a way of talking to him. There was a tap on his shoulder, a stormtrooper handed him a small holo link. Iskendyr thanked him and began to record his information for her.

It had been a one in a million chance, fate, maybe some might even say it was the Force. Whatever sort of divine or supernatural intervention had led her to his school, Iskendyr would forever be grateful.

Lily Rhodes ​

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily's fingers closed about the tags and she beamed at him. Looping them over her head she lifted her hair free and let them hang outside her clothes.

They wheeled lunch up on the ship along with the part, and Lily, popping a morsel of food in her mouth opened the hatch into the engine room. It was a tight space room just enough for the two of them. "Let me get the old part out." she disappeared down into the hole, appearing several minutes later a grease smear already on her face. She settled herself on the floor, legs dangling into the hatch and tossed the part aside as the stormtrooper handed him the holodisk.

"When are you allowed to leave here?" she asked frowning, realising she knew nothing of how school actually worked. "Do you get to leave here before you're finished?"

Iskendyr Yvarro

 

[Iskendyr Yvarro]

Iskey on his part began snacking on the crisps that had accompanied lunch. He watched as she disappeared into the hatch, he moved the new part into place and answered her question. "In a week or so, we get to go celebrate New Year with family, or aboard for some of the unlucky ones." The orphans, or the unwanted kids spent their holidays alone on the boat with staff. "I leave for holidays or whenever my aunt takes me away for whatever purpose. Sometimes I have to show up for parades like Trooping the Color, or First Order Day, and things like that." Iskendyr explained, and added, "plus I have a terminal in my room."

His brain told him not to tell her about his hobbies, such as WarAxe 70k, or Empires and Allies 0BBY. Sitting down beside her, Iskendyr further explained, "I'll graduate in a few years and either go serve the Empire of the Lost, an Imperial Remnant, those are like everywhere, or the one I like the most. I go back home and serve in the Commonwealth." He offered a smile, he noticed her face, "you uh, you've got uh... on your..." Iskey motioned with his hand that she had a grease smear on her face.

Lily Rhodes ​

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily couldn't imagine living her life in servitude of anyone let alone an Empire. People weren't supposed to serve, they were supposed to be free. But then, she suspected, complete freedom came with its own dangers. there would always have to be those who lived and served to protect the defenceless. A week from now, Lily would be halfway across the core. Too far to travel back, but there would be other holidays.

"Hmm?" she replied in his motion to her face. "Oh!" she giggled, wiping it off with her sleeve. reaching up to the food she nagged half a sandwich, taking a couple bites before holding it in her mouth and snagging the part up with the other and climbing one handed into the hatch. "You can come down if you like?" she called up to him around a mouthful. "Its cramped mind."

Iskendyr Yvarro

 

[Iskendyr Yvarro]

Iskendyr laughed lightly as she wiped away the grease smear. He plucked up his sandwich and took a bite or two and set it back down on the plate. "Oh, alright, then, let me..." He shifted about the hatch. While he understood it would be cramped, he didn't understand just how cramped it was going to be. "It is... yes, quite cramped indeed." But whatever discomfort he felt quickly dissipated.

"So what do... we do now, and... how does that fit, here?" He gestured to where the part had been, and the new part. Doing his best to focus on the task at hand. "Where are you headed?" Iskendyr thought to ask, "maybe you can ... call whenever you get to where you're going?"

Lily Rhodes ​

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily popped the last bite of her sandwich in her mouth as Iskey sleigh into the engine compartment with her, swallowing she glanced over her shoulder at him, colour rising in her cheeks at his proximity. She cleared her throat and settled her focus. "Oh, its pretty simple." she began "I connect it here and here and then," she slotted it into place "Now, if I've done it right it should-" There was a low hiss as the system re-pressurised.

She turned, her face inches from his, doe eyes meeting his, her smile spreading. "The controls to restart it are behind you." her voice was barely above a whisper. "Its the bit that takes the longest." She reached a hand past his head, flicking a few switches. "I'm heading to Denon, hoping to pick up some work." she bit her lower lip. "I'll call you every day I can."

Behind them, the hyperdrive hummed. Lily withdrew her arm, "We should, um," she gestured back up the hatch. "Just in case, I don;t want to be responsible for giving radiation poisoning the the Imperials future Admiral."

Iskendyr Yvarro

 

[Iskendyr Yvarro]

It's pretty simple, Iskendyr recalled her saying as he watched her focus. He wasn't exactly sure what or where the 'heres' were as his attention lay nearly on Lily, alone. "Yeah, sounds uh, sounds like it worked." The teen commented based on the low hiss that the system made when it re-pressurized. When the girl turned she was in his face, Iskendyr was positive that he didn't dare breathe, and only took a breath after she smiled and then his breathing damn near ceased again when she spoke in a whisper.

"D-D-Denon, huh?" Stammered Iskendyr as he caught his breath again, "yeah, please call, oh. I have uh, I have a cousin in Denon, y'know. Josephine Halscott, kinda mean, blonde, all business but good people once you get to know her." Maybe he could call ol' cousin Josie, see what she's up to and see if she'd be willing to use her Corporate Authority swagger, for him. Iskendyr was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't hear the hyperdrive hum to life.

It was only when she gestured up the hatch and spoke, "r-right, yeah, future admiral imperials." Whatever thoughts were in his mind had been lost to the ages. The Dosuunian teen climbed up out of the hatch and ate part of his sandwich. "I um, I should..." Iskendyr glanced down at the ramp and then looked back toward Lily. "But, I've uh, I've had a great time meeting you and it's been fun, a lot of fun, you're great." The teen continued to stammer, clearly rambling ran in the family. "And you can um, you can call me at any time, yeah, I'll pick up, so yeah... yeah."

Lily Rhodes ​

 

[Lily Rhodes]

Lily had completely unravelled him, he'd gone from confident, collected to an utter rambling mess. It was ten levels of adorable and she thought her heart might burst at the sight of it. She didn't want to say goodbye, she'd enjoyed his company and more than that she'd found something in him that she never thought possible.

She let out a little giggle, stepping closer, biting her lower lip again and smiling. "I'll call, every chance I get, I promise." Another step, forward. He was a whole head taller than her. "Iskey..." she said, he voice a whisper. "Stop talking."

Standing on her tiptoes, hands on his chest for balance, she kissed him.

Iskendyr Yvarro

 

[Iskendyr Yvarro]

Iskendyr melted.

She kissed him.

Well, that was going to be something he didn't tell his aunt. When it ended, and it ended far too soon for his liking. Iskendyr took a few steps back, pulled then by the stormtrooper who could be heard chuckling. Another trooped called him 'Han' although the meaning of that was lost on him, same for the guy who called him Princess. The Dosuuunian teen had the goofiest smile on his face as he just waved at Lily, and watched as she disappeared into the Pilgrim's Rest.

Then watched as it inevitably departed the hangar, and yet, somehow, Iskendyr just knew that this wasn't going to be the last time he saw her. In fact, it was very well, the beginning of something new.

Lily Rhodes ​

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