Dark Matter

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


As the music picked up, so did the attendees on the dance floor. There was a whirl of skirts in a rainbow of hues. There was a different man in front of her. Curly blonde hair and green eyes with a patrician nose. He had a dark blue broadcoat with a ruffled, crisp white necktie held in place with what appeared to be a sapphire pin.

“New to this dance, sorry if I step on toes,” Kaile managed to say, prompting a grin from the blonde. His name was Thomas Pfher, second son of Pfher Shipping.

“Oh, I doubt anyone will notice your toes, my dear,” his voice was deep. Nothing like Asmus’ tenor.

Thomas’ hand came to rest along her waist and once again, the world was a flurry of color. The cheery music picked up in pace and the Lorrdian mimic managed to follow the steps. Yet within that fantastic wave of color, Kaile caught the eyes gold-flecked jade meeting hers. Unable to help herself, Kaile’s lips went curving upwards with a flashing grin. In the next few seconds, Thomas spoke, “ Ah, and here is the switch. Barrington, catch!”

 

[Asmus Janes]

The crowd was too tightly packed to maneuver with any freedom across the dance floor. He was spinning about as he caught sight of Kaile switching again.

"Hi Janes," said his new partner. Mary Bindero. She had never thought much of him. In his mind Asmus mapped out the dance floor. The spinning couples were star system. Hyperspace lanes opened and closed with the changing solar winds. More determined than ever, the navigator mapped out his route.

Grace on the dance floor came easily to him. Peripheral awareness had been a necessity of the Naval academy. He grinned and danced and turned. Changing partners in a seemingly random way. Another swap and he lifted a tiny slip of a girl on the crescendo. The tempo built towards the final bars of the song. Asmus turned through a see of colour, swept one foot back and turned as the last change came. He broke away from his last slingshot with a final stride.

"Hello again," he laughed as he intercepted his guest. Asmus took Kaile's hand and drew her close, taking her waist with both hands and lifting her high into the final steps of the dance.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

"Hey-oh!" The breathless exclamation gave way to one of laughter. There it was again, melodic notes that went crashing against Asmus. Crazy, how it felt so right. It was the combination of that fleeting pressure of his hands on her hips as he swung her high and the spinning room whirling all around. One could almost wonder if it was real or if she was dreaming.


As Asmus brought her back down, he drew her towards him, his face an infectious expression of delight that brought a vibrancy to the tawny flecks in his eyes. There he was, beating into her heart once again. Sweet they swung, the palms of Kaile's hands coming to rest on the tops of his shoulders. From there they went gliding down, over the smooth fabric of his coat, right over where she could feel the pounding of his heart.


The last few steps came to a close, and there they were. The blood rushing through Kaile's veins, but it wasn't a repetition of their earlier collision at the beach house. It was different. Full of energy, bursting with enthusiasm and excitement. Joy and happiness tickled her with that effervescent flutter, as if Kaile was floating on a sea of champagne, the very air making her light and airy and just -- Free.


The music came to a conclusion, a few spare moments spent in cheer amidst the revelers around the pair who had enjoyed the dance. Kaile's fingers gave a slight curl inwards over Asmus' coat, the dancing fingers tracing dark circles, delighting at the contact.


"That was fun," she felt high, and for the moment, Kaile forgot. Forgot what the real purpose for their presence here was. Instead, the more than silly grin of hers shone up at him, the more she could feel herself falling even more in love with him. There wasn't time to think, the next set began, with couples starting dancing anew.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

It would have seemed too perfect for the band to have brought the tone down to a slow dance. They didn't. At least it was a more simple dance without changing partners. Asmus didn't want to let her go again. In fact he didn't even start to move when the music started. He just watched her smile and let it all wash over her.

Fantasy, this had been pure fantasy, he told himself. She wasn't faking this. Kaile genuinely enjoyed being her and he was enthralled just to look down at her smile. Here she was, in his world and enjoying the dance. Just as they had playfully imagined years ago.

"A-hem."

Asmus realised another couple had nearly barged through them. He took Kaile's hand and waist. A singer had joined the band now and couples moved more gracefully across the floor. Not only had he forgotten to get on with the dance, he had forgotten that he had a foot in her world now. Needed his eyes open, no matter how much he enjoyed her company.

"Slow, slow, quick, quick," he murmured. The dimple in his cheek was emphasised by a lopsided, abashed smile. He led her away with smooth strides, guiding her along. It was getting warm. Soon he would have to abandon his waistcoat.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

New steps, familiar dance. The firm set of Asmus' fingers was a comforting warm weight along the small of her back. An apologetic and abashed expression swept over Kaile's face at the couple they'd nearly crashed into, and as a result, her right foot brought her all the closer to the Incom pilot.

"Gettin' warm already," She said, following Asmus' lead. This wasn't as energetic as the last, but it was certainly a bit more intimate. That high she felt began to slowly abate.

"So many bodies in one place," such large get-togethers were not the norm for Kaile. The majority of her missions required her to be deployed and not actually mingling in such large groups. It was thrilling and new. One could easily lose themselves. A restaurant was likely no different, shuffling bodies, the hunger stirring aroma's of freshly grilled food, the chatter of conversation. Yet it was nothing compared to the soiree's collective of dancing bodies.

"Be easy to start sweating like a blanket wrapped Bantha in a sauna," a small joke. It was easy to find herself meeting Asmus' gaze, to hold it for a moment. To see the crow's feet of mirth appear at the corner of his eyes and the twist of his mouth draw upward. Yet that same expression that made her heart skip a beat also made her want to avoid it. So when her eyes went drifting just off to his right shoulder, the blur of faces became a little bit clearer. Sharper in focus.

With the slower tempo, it was easier to pick up on the various faces of the couples dancing alongside. Quicker to find matches and identities. Work, it always returned to their work.

"How long do these last?"

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Asmus adored the innocence with which she viewed the world. He had seen her toss bodyguards across a room with a wave of her hand, transform into another person, yet the way her eyes lit up with the promise of fresh fruit or a shiny new experience always made his heart flutter. Asmus smiled to himself as she returned to scanning the room. It was getting warm. Being dressed so formally was a stark change from the last few days. They'd half dressed to walk the beach from time to time and that was about it. Asmus felt his pulse quicken at just the memory of how they had celebrated IGW day with a few bottles and a little exploration.

"All night," he laughed. "They close the dance floor from time to time and open the great windows to cool down. Later it's much less formal. More of a disco with a band and a singer."

He had danced until his shirt was soaked and his face was red before. Asmus had always wanted to run from this life, but the odd party had always made it more bearable. They slowed, he span her away and drew her back as the song came to it's conclusion.

Pay attention to me, just for now.

A hand on her waist, a hand on her back and he tipped and caught her. It wasn't the first time he had done this.

"You look..."

He was interrupted by the screaming. Asmus pulled her back to her feet in a flash. Her heard cries of fear and something that sent chills down his spine. The modulated voices usually only heard in the presence of imperial stormtroopers.

Jay?

There was no reply. Asmus scanned their surroundings, looking for a flash of white. There, up above on the balcony was Tarien. His gaze fell squarely upon the couple. The man turned and shouted, waving towards them both to someone out of sight on the stairs.

"Kark."

 

[Kaile Vera]

Just like that, the illusion that the pair could step away from the troubles of the galaxy and the war unfolding was immediately shattered. In an instant, in the wake of those cries of alarm, Kaile’s face drained of its blood, the former glow of color blanching.

[ Jay, what is going on?] the words were sent through highly encrypted transmissions over to the droid. Her body grew tense. Gone was the smile, instead her smile had faded from view and the Lorrdian appeared to be preparing for any possible outcome. As if coiled for action.

“Asmus, what is the nearest exit?” she inquired quietly, trying to get a better view. Meanwhile her mind was trying to connect to the holonet for any sudden news cast or alerts. The results that would return made her jaw flex.

The Imperial fleet had arrived.

 

[Asmus Janes]

"This way..." Asmus said. His voice was a low groan. Tarien was no pointing at them and shouting. Asmus turned and moved through the crowd. A glance over his shoulder and he could see stormtroopers at Tarien's side. He felt a wickedly hot flash of anger. Tarien had been all smiles earlier. Had asked about his job and then told them the party would be kicking off later. Apparently now he was coming good on his promise to find them again. Mind must have been so closed off that Kaile hadn't picked up on any ill intent.

If he could have hidden a blaster he would have stopped to take at shot at him. The troopers weren't firing on them yet. The crowd was thick and they didn't want to fire indiscriminately. There were probably a lot of people here who would suddenly become staunch imperial supporters.

He swore again and grabbed Kaile's hand, tugging her down a side corridor. The door at the end led out into the garages. He slowed up as he approached it, hearing a commotion on the other side. Asmus looked towards Kaile for direction, but before they could talk the door was thrown towards them, smashed off its hinges. On top of it was a stormtrooper. When he hit the ground he stayed there.

"That," said Jay as he ducked through the door after the soldier, "is what I have decided trouble looks like."

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

I didn't read it. That singular phrase went ringing in Kaile's mind, almost as loud as the growing hammer of her heart. Adrenaline was already pumping through her veins, slingshotting her into action. The dress, as pretty as it was with its ruffles and lace, was gathering along her legs, blonde hair bouncing with every step.

There wasn't time to make witty comments. Kaile had reverted into her agent mode then. Her expression was set in a serious cast, eyes searching for details not only visually but what she could connect off the holonet. A different person again. Another layer.

"We need to leave. Now." could they risk going back to the beach house? Unlike the Messa, the Solaris didn't have slave drivers. They couldn't call the ship to them -- not to mention, with how shiny it was, there was no way to keep a low profile.

Damnit! Kaile's mind swung back to Tarien. I should have read his intentions. I should have known.

You were distracted. Kaile's lips drew thin. This was her fault. She should have known better. Kept focus. Done what I was supposed to do.

"Jay, is the path clear to get to our shuttle?" They had to get back to the beach house regardless. Kaile had to burn all the intel they had left there.

 

[Asmus Janes]

"There is now," Jay explained.

Asmus had swept up a blaster carbine, but he decided it might not have been necessary. There were three more stormtroopers between them and the air speeder. One of them was still embedded in the cracked windshield of someone else's fancy speeder. Asmus hoped it was Tarien's.

He'd known him for so long. Even under the empire before the man had never shown any political motivation. But he was ambitious. His business ventures had gone badly. Perhaps he was just desperate.

"The Solaris can break an imperial blockade now its been repaired. If we..."

Asmus fell silent as a message flashed across his eyes.

FLASHFIRE FLASHFIRE

AUTHORISATION CODE TRIPLE ENCODED

ALL CLASS 3 AND BELOW STORES TO BE WIPED

FLASHFIRE

Asmus didn't know the specifics, but everyone knew what that codeword meant. Burn all material in the field. All agents go to ground and look for further instructions. He hoped Kaile knew where. Maybe a coded message in a blog or something of that sort.

The SIS had been utterly compromised.

Asmus watched as his SIS messaging app was wiped out from his implant system. His mission logs were all pushed back into the encrypted partition. That was a Class 4 crypto store.

"Oh no..." he groaned. He had to listen to Kaile's lead now, but he was still a professional. Still a pilot. The airspeeder was rented under an alias at least. He leapt over the side, hands moving across the console in a blue. The engine thrummed. "Where to?"

Getting an agent out of a hot zone was his profession. One he was very, very good at. He needed her guidance, but he would get her away from this.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Asmus would be able to catch sight of Kaile tensing, and her eyes seemed to slightly wiggle from side to side. She also received the SIS readout, but her clearance was that of Class Five. Kaile knew what this meant. They had to go underground. If there was ever a time to be jerked back into reality, here it was.

"Beach house. I am working on wiping as much as I can remotely." her response was quiet, but there was a stoic tone to her voice. This wasn't the first time Kaile had to go underground or out of contact with headquarters. It had happed in the past for months, once even a year.

"Your family," her voice was tight, "You will not be allowed to contact them until given confirmation." her throat gave a bob, not looking at Asmus when she said that.

"Until we know just what Tarien might have given the Imperials." This is what the young agent had feared for Asmus. The reality of the risk was looming over her. The same reason why she had left Kurt and Asmus long ago.

'For their safety." at least, as much as that empty statement of comfort could provide. Kaile couldn't promise Asmus that his mother or father would be alright. Kaile had no idea that Tarien had merely pointed Asmus out because he had been a former Galactic Alliance pilot and a Incom employee. In her mind, she was already going through the dozens of situations that could very well mean the torture and death of Inara Janes.

This is why I didn't want you to ---

"Go." it was almost surreal, really, the way the lace and ruffles of her ball gown seemed to poof around her when she sat down into the seat beside Asmus. The make-believe veil had been abruptly ripped aside. This wasn't fantasy. It was reality.

Lives were at stake.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Gone."

The engine whined as he put his foot down. The air speeder lurched out of the space and turned sharply. A blast of thrust send them down between the lines of vehicles. They went quickly enough that there was a quiet woom as they passed each one.

They left so quickly he only caught a glimpse of the pair of imperial shuttles that had landed in the grounds of the house. Asmus took them up and burned away hard. Her instructions had been heard but not fully considered, he was watching his instruments, regulating the engine flow. If he couldn't contact his family then he couldn't go back for them. There wasn't time to think through the implications. Not for a moment.

His left hand moved to the controls and yanked back on a lever. The speeder suddenly lost velocity and altitude.

"Why..." Jay started to ask.

"Going down into the city and merging with traffic," Asmus cut the droid off. "Those shuttles might have tracked us. If we stay alone they'll be able to follow."

He kept his mind on the controls, keeping his focus as they dropped into a built up area and joined an airborne grid of vehicles. It felt strange to walk away from the danger. But to run was the invite the predator to give chase. Slowly, he started to let the situation truly sink in.

 

[Kaile Vera]

Kaile’s hand shot out to brace herself as the shuttle suddenly lost altitude. Her blue tinted eyes were locked forward, but every now and then there was an occasional blur of vibrant blue. It was the cybernetic lenses that were processing, encrypting, and filing away data in her mind. It would take a good chunk of her focus to administer a thorough wipe of data of what she could remotely. The rest would need to be done in person. All the while, her mind was also struggling with what this meant.

For the Alliance. For SIS. For Asmus. For me.

Her throat gave a stiff bob again. The agent knew what had to be done, but Asmus likely had no idea. No clue. It didn’t register that the pilot had been running extractions for the SIS and would understand risks— but this was different. This had ties to his real life and could very well affect his family and his home.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Already a fine sheen of sweet would bead over her forehead, mind going a mile a second. Asmus brought them into a line of traffic and they were set within the flow of other speeders.

If the Imperials were this far into Alliance territory, the shit had hit the fan. There was no way they’d be able to get this close without having engaged the Alliance fleet. Not with Sullust so close by. Before she knew it, her teeth were worrying a sore spot on her bottom lip, chewing it raw.

“How much longer before we get there?”

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Soon as we've pushed through this traffic, five minutes."

If anyone was tracking them they would hae lost them soon enough. His screen showed the virtual airspeeder highway they had joined. It was filled with taxis. The air here was still of poor quality from the industrial district. They would break free and head north for the shore and home.

If this was an invasion it was a very quiet one. Able to drive through traffic with very little conscious intervention he too skimmed the news. His access to Alliance messaging and bullitins was gone.

Vessels in orbit. A skirmish at a bunker. Envoys visiting governors, nobles and merchants. Everything was quiet.

He had left friends and family behind. If this was a regime change then the secret police and authoritarian systems would come too. His pulse raced at the idea of his own family being followed. His mother wouldn't have come even if he had told her too. She would have wanted to chart her own path through this, negotiated her way to an even stronger position for herself and the company. It didn't change the cold touch of dread up his spine.

"Off here," he said, pulling away from traffic. Keeping low to the ground he accelerated away. It wasn't long before the urban spawl became open ground. The ocean would dominate the horizon soon.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

The dress that had felt beautiful and nice to be in was starting to feel more like a smothering blanket. She'll need to take it off. No.. no time. She'll have to do the wipe off the equipment, take her bag. She didn't have much, to begin with. What information was on the Solaris, she'd have to take care of that as well.

Up ahead, the blue of the ocean could be seen reflecting the rays of the sun. There was almost a displacement of the Lorrdian's emotions, moving them into this tiny box where she could reign them in. As much as she told herself this was like any other run to ground, Kaile knew it was different. Asmus made it different. It made her lose focus. He shouldn't have come at all.

"Once we land, prep the Solaris," Kaile said quietly. "I'll get the rest of the equipment. Jay," her head turned towards the droid, " I need to you be actively searching for any incoming vehicles or notices that may indicate anyone is coming to the beach house. We also need to scan just what will we be dealing with once we are in orbit."

Then they had to leave the system. Likely away from Alliance space. They would have to ditch the Solaris. It was too visible.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

The shift in her demeanour could be felt without even looking at her. They had to focus now. He had to focus now. Asmus dropped down towards the house, repulsors blowing kicking up a cloud of sand.

All those little touches she had seen to make the house his would all be left behind. Asmus had spent years away before because he had wanted to run from this world. It wasn't the same as being forced away. And kept away, most likely. No contact at all. The thought finally shocked him. This glass box on the beach had been a warm, bright and pleasant place for the last few days. She brightened it up.

Now it was cold and dark. An empty box, windows taking on an obsidian sheen as the sun dipped below the horizon. Asmus felt hollow.

"On it," he called. The key was torn from the speeder and he leapt over the side. Pushing a button he unlocked the house and ran for the ramp up to the Solaris. The ship was fast and could take a beating head on. Almost perfect for a blockade, but with no location for the Subversion, where did they even go?

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

The ruffles and lace were now a hindrance in attempted to exit the speeder. The blonde short bob of hair that had been neatly brushed now was a tousled mess. Grabbing handfuls of the fabric of the skirt, Kaile drew it up a bit more forcefully than she'd intended, allowing her legs some freedom. Much like Asmus, the beach home seemed to be washed in the cold light of the approaching sunset.

With every step, as she passed by the hallway, the living room, the kitchen, flashbacks of the past couple of days came fluttering in and out of her mind. The laughter. The clink of wine glasses. A roar of a fire. The crashing of ocean waves. My name on his --

Stop. No, Kaile told herself. Moving towards the table that she'd set up a remote link, the agent activated her datapad. With a flurry of fingers, the Lorrdian began the sequence of the purge.

Five minutes. They had five minutes to erase all semblance of their presence here. With a single press of her finger, Abi was no more. The protocol would provide a day or so that Abi died in an Incom accident due to a faulty electrical error. Here was the part Asmus wouldn't like.

So would he.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Under his thumb was a button. The moment he pushed it the holographic display to his right would light up and show the ships in low orbit. Of course they would also see a ship with advanced scanners actively picking them out.

This was never where you were meant to be, he thought to himself as he looked out across the horizon. It made it just a little easier to accept that he wouldnt be back here for a long time.

Sometimes, he could curse the teenage Asmus who had yearned for an exciting life of adventure. He still wore his cravat, but the waistcoat was draped across the back of his chair.

How close to being done? He sent to Kaile. He didn't have SIS messaging but he could still send a local, direct message to her. His thumb hovered over the button. The point of no return.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile gave one last sweep of the living room. Gathering her electronics and files was easy. Ruffling to pick up the rest of her belongings in her small bag was more difficult. Not because of the extent of personal belongings she had - there was precious little of it, to begin with - but because of the memories that each room would echo with.

Her eyes gave a slight lift at the incoming message from Asmus. With a deep breath, the agent took an about-face and spun on her heel. Exiting the house, the door slid shut behind her. It was an echo of every single alias Kaile had shut the door behind in her past.

With a hop and a grunt, Kaile bent down to slip the heels off her feet. She took them in with two hooks of her fingers, straightening to her full height. Up ahead, the Solaris glinted in the orange hue of the setting sun, cast in an ember glow. Darting inside, she gave a duck of her head, blonde hair falling forward. Throwing her bag along the floor, it gave a soft thunk. The heels were next. Moving swiftly, Kaile made her way towards the cockpit. There she found Asmus. He had removed his waist coat, his hair a tousled mess that framed his face in a way that made her heart ache.

He'll hate me once he finds out.

Sliding into the seat next to him, Kaile quietly went to the navigational computer.

"We'll be making a series of micro jumps once we are in orbit." her finger swept up the holographic display. The galactic map of the sector appeared with a soft glow. "Omwat first. Then to Athos IV. Then Outer Rim Territory at Surabi 7." she didn't add anything beyond that. The less Asmus knew the better.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Asmus would have struggled to sweep the house with her. To retrace the steps and memories of the last few days under such conditions would have pained him.

Asmus thumbed the button. A holographic globe appeared and started to highlight the big cruisers on their side of it. It was nothing he could not handle. In his time he had taken on some of the most talented pilots in the Galaxy and had not come up short. At least not since his Rogue Squadron days. She had seen the trace of brilliance in him, but it had taken hard work and time to mold him into the officer he was now.

"Understood. They've seen us scanning." His hands moved across the consoles but his gaze was fixed to the distant horizon.

"I've got a bad feeling I'll never come back here again." The words were spoken softly. Asmus cast a sideways glance over at Kaile. Heels abandoned, face flushed and dress hitched up. He might have pictured this, but under very different circumstances.

"Too much pollution, pomp and imperials anyway," he said firmly with a yank on the stick. The engines burned blue, then white. Chromium reflecting the last rays of the sun as they launched across the ocean. He carefully manipulated the shields to cut a path through the atmosphere. He built up some speed before pulling back and sending them angling towards space.

"Countdown on the nav-comp." Of course there were fighters scrambled.