Star Wars Roleplay: Chaos

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Impact

Was it silly that his smile and the way that he held her hand so easily made her heart flutter? Maybe. Maybe not. At times Kaile considered herself the espion, the mature one, the one who knew they were set on a mission and had an objective to fulfill. At other times the mischievous twinkle in his eyes and that rascal grin make her fell as if she were nothing but melting butter on a hot pan.

Those long, slender fingers hand curled without consciousness around her own, caressing the line of her forefinger and playing idly with her thumb. It sent tiny ripples of electric shivers up along arm, making her highly conscious of the warmth and contact of their skin.

“Yeah,” she managed to say a bit too breathily before clearing her throat.

“Take care Max.” The brunette added, pink darling her cheeks as she tried to get her bearings again.

“I should go…” Kaile gave a tug of her hand that Asmus still held, while the other gestured to the reactor.
 
“Oh,” he replied, feeling her hand pull away. He hadn’t even realised he had it. There was a sheepish smile on his face as he gave a nod. He picked up a couple of tools and placed them back in the box.

Rather than foolishly trying to get up and carry it himself with one arm he left it to her to haul over to the reactor. The pain in his shoulder was becoming a more insistent throbbing now. He would probably take a couple of the prescribed pills before getting some sleep.

“Did I tell you it was a bounty hunter sent by my own mother that got me shot the very first time?” He asked as they walked over to one of the generators. “Hmm. Want me to make a list of parts we might need to swap out when we land, or do you just thing we need some better tools to square this away?” Again that quick flip between personal and business. Asmus had always been able to move between them seamlessly, but it wasn't so easy when it came to Kaile. A slight flush coloured his own cheeks as he thought back to that kiss in the square.
 
Make a list of the tools we’d need to swap out? It was a fairly innocuous question to ask. Kaile bit her lip, attempting to mentally go over what they might need compared to the damage. A cluck of her tongue came next.

“Umm, reckon that depends. She’s all new plus with all sorts of custom parts.” A glance went at the lockers. “Then we have to figure out just what we have that we could use here.”

Her brows rose, one hand reaching into the Sossan-10 Ion drive section to access an intake.

“Parts won’t be cheap.” That was evident enough, which made Kaile wince at the likelyhood of a high price tag. That was the only problem with a ship like Solaris; maintenance bill would be staggeringly high.

“That’s even if we could find the exact parts we’d need.” Turning towards the pilot, Kaile’s voice faded as she caught the slight grimace of pain over Asmus’ face. She gave a sigh.

“No, you didn’t tell me but seems like to me you’re already feeling the consequences of getting shot again.”
 
“I'm alright,” he insisted. In his head he was trying to consider options. “I used to get told that I'd get used to being shot. I just don't think it's something you can. I noticed you had a fresh one.” He tried not to think on the circumstances which meant he'd seen that lighter patch of scar tissue.

Asmus had a quick peek inside the toolbox. There really wasn't a great deal in there, just the basics. There was even less than the emergency handheld bag on the Quintessence. They'd owned almost a small room of tools to keep her flying.

“Jay, do we have any spares?”

[Only perishables. Filters, seals and the like.]

“Thanks Jay. Well, I reckon you know engines better than I do. Hopefully even if we can't find what we need a full tank of fuel might see us limp back. We’ll get a decent toolkit for her at the very least. She seems to be holding up alright at the moment?”
 
He noticed that? Kaile flashed a look of surprise at his direction, only tug at the hem of her shirt down, as if he could see the tiny circlet that had marked just beside her hip. A smear of grease stained the blue shirt. A mar amidst the sterile room. Solaris might be a luxurious yacht but she still had a bit of dirt in her. Still required a little bit of elbow grease to keep her aloft.

“Yeah… Stings like a hot poker.” Kaile agreed, rubbing the back of her hand against her right cheek. That first smear of grime over the honeyed skin. With the wisps of hair flying in all directions, just a shade closer to the Kaile he’d known before.

“We’ll do alright for now. “ she admitted, but after a review of the intake and a powercoil, knew that it meant at least one replacement. ‘I don’t know if Kayhri might have it, but at the very least we’ll need a new powercoil.”
 
“That seems doable. Even if they haven't a precise match we can rig something to fit. Place like that must have a junkyard. I hope there are some less…” he looked down at his shirt. “...Noble clothes around. Might stand out a little rummaging around a junkyard.”

She didn't know how much he enjoyed seeing her back with messed hair and engine grease stains down herself once more. It brought back a rush of memories that seemed to blend together. Memories he had cherished. The lorrdian would probably notice. But he also remembered the uncertainty that had followed. The heartache he had not been prepared for.

The SIS hadn't been around long. Perhaps she had been GADF military intelligence or with a different branch. But she had responsibilities. It had hurt her to let him go. He knew that.

The drugs were like tearing down a filter between him and his emotions and everything was felt more acutely. Every complex thought took more time to form. But they were starting to wear off.

“I reckon we can make this thing look greasy and lived in with a few days,” he chuckled.
 
Lived in and look greasy. As if they were making themselves at home. Kaile bit her lower lip as her wrist slowed the turn of the hydrospanner. “That depends on the Subversion.” she quickly interjected, as if trying to bring that fact up like a wall. Giving the Solaris a name together was one thing; working on it to the point where it looks lived in… well another.

That made it more than it was. More than a boat. Just like with Kurt and the Messa.

“We can get there quick enough I’m sure.” as if the lingering thought of spending more time on the Solaris was a bad idea. It made one think. One wonder. One drown in potential and what ifs and maybes and memories of the past. Kaile couldn’t think of that.

The Lorrdian had already seen the wistfulnes in Asmus’s eyes. The haze of medication made it all the easier to read his body language, to loosen tongues, to get into this laidback mood of unfiltered mental thoughts.

“And I doubt you mind the clothes that much.” an attempt at a joke to distract followed the briefest of glances at Asmus’ direction.
 
There was a broad grin at her suggestion. His eyes dropped down and he gave a slow shake of his head. He pinched the front of the shirt between thumb and forefinger and tugged it out, demonstrating how baggy it was even with one arm under it. He left a grease stain where he had held it, which brought about another chuckle. It seemed he could get himself greasy by osmosis by just sitting next to the mechanic. Or handling tools, he reminded himself.

“He has a walk in wardrobe full of clothes I would happily pilfer if they came close to fitting. I'm pretty sure I just ruined a two hundred credit shirt. Oh well. There was a very nice coat in there I might be able to get away with. Might wrap that seventy two in it and sneak it back to my cabin when we get back.

“Ah, Amadgener would have something to say about how well petty theft and I go together if he heard that,” he said with a low chuckle.
 
Kaile gave a cant of her head in acknowledgment in that. Amendgener would be quick to make commentary. "You don't have to rile him up on purpose. " Kaile reminded him, focusing on what appeared to be a burnt out powercoil. With every movement coating herself more in grease and grime, proving that under all that ultrachrome and shiny, Solaris bled the same as any other boat.

"He ain't in the right either." She admitted. Her feelings of defensiveness for the pilot rose again. "He fuels the fire as well." A twist of her torso and she curled her fingers around the powercoil. " then to top it off, y'all are like oil and water."
 
[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Hmm."

It wasn't that he was against her answer. He was simply used to people rallying around him when it came to Amadgener. His constant micro-management didn't make him the most popular member of the crew. Even if the SIS wasn't a military, the Subversion was still a naval vessel and there was a strict hierarchy. No matter how much Asmus could disagree with the man on a particular matter, he was often forced to wind his neck in and deal with his orders.

The smile returned a moment later, along with a little shrug. "I know," he admitted. "I should probably try harder. I did at first you know. New ship, new crew. Tried to disagree politely when there was time, but he made it fairly clear that wasn't the way he liked to work. Never met a more stubborn officer. Never met an officer who wouldn't alter their preconception of a plan using the expertise of their subordinates to his degree either.

"But you're right. I don't always help things. Don't like him making out that I - and the rest of Rogues - were wildcards that didn't deserve their name." Asmus sighed emphatically. He didn't add anything about his past this time. He wouldn't have started giving the matter much more thought had it been anyone else to suggest he exacerbated things.

"Think I should try an olive branch when we get back?" he asked seriously. In his head he imagined hitting the captain across the back of the head with a rather solid, weighty branch.
 
[member="Asmus Janes"]

[SIZE=9pt]“I reckon you already know the answer to that. Don't need me to say it.” Katie replied, making a small gesture with her chin as she swung those wide, brown eyes over to the pilot. He was in his contemplative state again, mulling her words. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Course there were a few times I wanted to give him a piece of my mind,” she admitted, offering a half smile. Pearly white teeth flashed but of an instant before then shut when she returned her attention to the reactor. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Get me that right there,” she gestured with her fingers over to a tool. She was almost done, but she still required a few parts. One of which they were surely not gonna find here. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]“Jay Four can likely run a check to see if this here part is available on Kahryi -- but it won't come cheap.” Which is what she was afraid of. [/SIZE]
 
Half looking where she was pointing, Asmus picked up the wrong thing and Kaile gave a sharp shake of the head. He tried again and found the right tool.

“That was very diplomatic by the way,” he said with a note of humour. “But I appreciate that you thought of speaking up on my behalf.” The second statement came with no trace of humour at all.

“I will now only feel slightly guilty that I pictured hitting him with an actual olive branch. A big weighty one. One you could swing with two hands...Okay but I will try. Promise,” he added before she could give him any kind of look for his silliness.

“Catch that Jay?”

[Yes. But I should inform you that I haven't yet developed the psychic ability to tell which parts you're talking about.]

Asmus laughed. “I'll check the manuals and get the service codes,” he offered.
 
[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]An arch of the brow followed at that commentary. Diplomatic? For a brief moment, Kaile wasn’t sure exactly what he meant by that, if there was an underlying meaning. Took her another two seconds to settle on the knowledge that she was looking far too deeply into thing. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Good thing Asmus’ quip prompted a twitch from her mouth a second later. A roll of ellipses and the woman shook her head. A hot puff of breath blew out her cheeks and sent her bangs flying. They flopped right back down to tickle the tips of her lashes later. A small scrunch of her nose relayed her displeasure. It always seemed to just get everywhere. A toss of her head and she managed to get a good bit of them off of her eyes. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Jay Four piped in and it only completed the circle. Shoulders shook in mirth and once again, Kaile gave a cluck of her tongue. At least this time it wasn’t in displeasure.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“You two, really. Jay Four you are only encouraging him!” [/SIZE]
 
Silence was all that came from Jay, a soft chuckle from Asmus. He would have laughed more but something had distracted him. His one free hand came up and combed the last of the free bangs back behind her ear. If he'd had both hands he would have re-tied it for her.

Her hands came to an abrupt halt in what they were doing. He could have sworn she tilted her head into the contact ever so slightly. His heart skipped a few beats.

His hand was retracted back more quickly than was necessary. “Sorry,” he mumbled. “Would have been more help with two hands.”

He looked around and his eyes came to settle on the data pad. “Umm right. Part numbers. Yes.”

[I'm picking up a touch of anxiety in your tone Asmus. We're not going to blow up are we? That would be unfortunate.]

Asmus cringed. He looked up at Kaile and managed to smile and shake his head. “No Jay. Everything is fine.”

[Oh. Good.]
 
[member="Asmus Janes"]

[SIZE=9pt]The brush prompted hazel orbs to flick up to meet the slightly abashed smile Asmus gave her. Warmth lingered but for a moment before he suddenly drew his hand away, rocking on his heels and shifting his weight. Add to it Jay Four’s commentary and the color just seemed to spread over his swarthy features. His wasn’t the only one. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“We ah- yeah, we won’t blow up just yet.” Kaile managed to squeak out, returning her attention to the reactor. Right, back to work. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Almost done. How long before we make it to Kayhri?” the espion inquired, needing to fill the slightly awkward environment with more words. They were acting like teenagers. Ninny, Kaile would quietly chide herself. [/SIZE]
 
Asmus flicked through the index of the datapad to find the number. He could recognise parts just find, but he didn't exactly have an encyclopedic memory of the exact model for every ship.

[Likely nine hours and forty minutes] came Jay's voice.

“Right, Jay, we need two of…” Asmus reeled off a few part codes.

[Thank you Asmus. We have received a data packet from your allies. I have been given access to an account, but I won't know what's in it until I arrive.] There was a pause. [Not pirates then, spies perhaps?] It was mumbled as if Jay was talking to himself rather than addressing the pair. Asmus’ face creased up in amusement.
 
[member="Asmus Janes"]

[SIZE=9pt]Kaile’s lip gave a twitch.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Why? Are you fascinated with pirates and spies, Jay Four?” this was an easier topic to revolve around on. Even if technically they weren’t supposed to be having it with the droid. Figures that work would be the better option of discussion than anything that might be going on between her and Asmus. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ I have premium holonet access to all of the prime holo channels. I am merely curious as to their validity. ] even Kaile was able to pick up that it had to do with more than just that. There was a touch of curious excitement and sense of adventure that the poor droid probably desired after being cooped up for so long within the ship. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“What sort of validity?” Kaile inquired, testing to see just what Jay Four would say. A brief glance at Asmus would let him catch the mischief in her eyes. Tightening the bolts, the espion pulled back her hand and went reaching for the panel.[/SIZE]
 
Asmus was grinning now, squeezing his eyes shut and trying not to laugh out loud. Asmus tried to gesticulate with his hands to suggest that Jay was like he had been back when he was young.

[Well.] A pause. [Have you ever driven a speeder at break neck speeds through busy city streets? Or had a blaster fight in a secret lair?]

Asmus was chewing in his bottom lip. With wide eyes he shook his head at Kaile. He wasn't going to be able to reply immediately without laughing. The droid had noticed anxiety in his tone before, he didn't want Jay getting offended. This was a job for Kaile's vocal control.
 
[member="Asmus Janes"]

[SIZE=9pt]Kaile’s mouth fell open and then suddenly closed much like a mud fish out of water. Asmus wasn’t the only one having to contain the small outburst of a giggle snort. She immediately mouthed, ‘[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt]What are you doing?!’[/SIZE][SIZE=9pt] closing her mouth a second after when Jay Four suddenly went -[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ What about take down a drug gang?] [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Oh, this only gets better… Swallowing hard to collect her bearings, the espion added, “Speeder at breakneck speeds? No. “[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A pause, then Kaile swiveled those impish brown eyes over to Asmus.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“Although, you should ask Asmus about breakneck speeds and speederbikes. I reckon he has plenty of stories to tell.” [/SIZE]
[SIZE=9pt]Ah, yes, the attention had swung over to Asmus now. [/SIZE]
 
Asmus exaggerated the motion of taking a deep breath, pushing his free hand towards the ground as if forcing the amusement down.

“I'm sure we could find a time for a joyride in a landspeeder,” Asmus said. Their ride through the city back to the hotel hadn't been quite that fast perhaps. It amazed him how calm Kaile could be in the worst conditions. Likewise she probably wasn't used to him being as capable when in life threatening danger, he mused.

“I have however been in several naval battles and flew a clapped out lambda class shuttle through a full imperial blockade. Does that count as interesting?”

[Yes, but then for me the outside of this ship would count as interesting.]

Asmus pulled a mock heartbroken face at Kaile. “You can come find parts with us when we land,” he reiterated his earlier promise.
 

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