Impact

[Kaile Vera]

[SIZE=9pt]It took a few minutes before Kaile got to the exposed panel. The blue cube had a soft, pulsing glow. She bit her lower lip. Yeah this was it. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]“So you are the one who just might make us go boom.” Kaile said in a low voice. The cerulean glow reflected off of her eyes. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ Yeah I found it.] her voice came over the intercom with crystal clarity. Something to say about the amount of credits that had gone into this ship. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ Just as pretty and shiny on the inside as out. ] Kaile added, coming to a stop in front of the cube.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][so any surprises beyond what could potentially end up with us blowing up? ][/SIZE]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

 

[Asmus Janes]

[Very good. If you're determined to press on, please ensure you don't the circuitry with your bare hands. Obviously it's not the largest security protocol to get through, but I felt it prudent to tell you.]

Asmus was set on not interrupting her work, but he turned towards Jay with wide eyes. “Why don't you mention all the things with this that might get us vaporised?”

[I'm afraid I don't know what all the safety protocols might be,] Jay added. [Most ship transponder have a range of anti-tamper mechanisms in place. It's just that normally they shut down the ship or broadcast an alert. Not start the reactor breaking down.]

The entire thing was putting a dent in Asmus’ attempts to relax and think happy, Kaile-based, thoughts. Probably for the best that Hacken was kept from proceedings.

[I do hope, for all our sakes, that your associate is capable] Jay said to Asmus.

“She is,” Asmus asserted quietly. “She's very good.”

[You're referring to her ability to tamper with secure systems?] Jay asked.

With eyes still closed, Asmus arched one brow. The droid was making it difficult to tell if it was trying to be humourous or merely making asking clarification questions He had the feeling the droid had been starved of any interaction. He'd heard that droids made to converse verbally could go a little strange if not given enough opportunity to practise.

“How is the ship running?” Asmus asked, keen to take his mind off the transponder problem.

[The engines were pushed well beyond their recommended parameters, but the vessel has been well maintained. I have made some adjustments to compensate and all readings are green. We should reach our destination in ten hours.]

“It seemed prudent at the time to do so. Thank you Jay.”

[I did wonder what the sudden acceleration and loud noises were about. It… it is good to be doing something helpful.] The last few words came slow, almost a hint of emotion behind the artificial tone.

“It's appreciated Jay,” Asmus replied quietly. He'd never really treated his astromech droids all that well, yet now he was trying to soothe the feelings of a droid he hadn't met before.

[You should rest you know. She is quite right,] Jay replied after a moment's silence, keeping his eyes on the controls.

Asmus leaned his head back into his chair. He pursed his lips at another twinge in his shoulder. In his mind he sealed himself away from the discomfort and took himself back to that cozy little tent with Kaile, but under different circumstances. “I'll go lie down when I know I'm not going to get blown into a thousand pieces whilst I sleep.”

Jay had neglected to turn off the intercom and Kaile was privy to the entire conversation.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]Kaile was quietly checking each of the crystal clear datadisks in the transponder cube. She was staying quiet, listening in. Part of her felt a little guilty, another was curious. Hearing Asmus’ voice, his compliments of her, and what he said filled her with a sort of warmth that seemed to spread from her belly. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]Her fingers delicately pinched at the edges of a datadisk. Changing the transponder code of a ship wasn’t an easy job. There were so many variables to consider. Every ship was different too. Different security measures, different technologies. She’d first have to become familiar with the ship and how it ran from here to the reactor. Even with her abilities or the Force, that would take time. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ Haven’t set off an alarm yet. ] her voice piped up to Jay Four’s original question, holding up the datadisk up. There was a small flash of blue over her eyes as Kaileann began to scan the thin sheet. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ This one is a bit more advanced than I anticipated… might take a bit. ] her voice was a strong presence through the comm. Indeed, crystal clear comm system with excellent speakers. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

Eyes still closed, Asmus sighed quietly. “Always wanted a ship like this,” he murmured. “If the safety protocols seem to much we can replan. We might be able to land, refuel and make the trip to a base.”

[Are you pirates?] Jay asked. Asmus could have sworn there was a touch of excitement in his voice. Suddenly Asmus was taken back to his own teenage years. The memories of refusing to let Kairon put him off his father's own ship - that Kairon had stolen -because he wanted to go on adventures.

Asmus leaned forwards and placed his right elbow on his knee. “It's classified,” he said. His tone didn't suggest he was shutting out discussion. He hoped Kaile wouldn't be annoyed.

[How exciting,] Jay replied.

“Kaile, what are we going to call my new ship?” She couldn't see, but he had a mischievous grin in. Given the clarity of voice and her natural abilities she would be able to visualise the expression from his voice alone.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

[ Your new ship? ]

There was a hint of amusement emphasized within the 'your'. The arches of Kaileann's brows rose, hiding under the fringe of her bangs.

[ Staking a claim already? ] there was a slight snapping sound as the agent set down another datadisk. From her hip, she brought out a small datapad. With a flick of her finger, she popped the small datastick into the slot. Time to see just how this security measure was rigged.

[ She is a shiny girl... I don't know Jay Four, what do you think? Think her old name suited her fine or does she need a fresh new cover on her ample nacelles? ]

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

[I will need a name for you to update the transponder,] Jay replied matter-of-factly. [I will have to calculate a triple binary base integrity value for you to enter into the logic board. If you can get into it without blowing us up.]

"That was rude of me," Asmus said. "Our new ship. One this shiny can't get sent back to the stock house on Fondor. What's it called now Jay?" He asked. The Subversion only had one loft big enough for the vessel, but it was currently unoccupied.

[Majesty's Jubilee. Perhaps something a little sharper?]

"Good call. Hmm." Asmus had given his fighter a relatively childish name. This deserved something better than that.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Kaile wasn't quite sure how to take the joking tone when Asmus mentioned the ship as 'Our new ship.' Good thing neither were able to catch sight of her. A shifting of weight over her feet and a deep breath lifted her chest to ease the slight alarm. He's just joking. No need to take this seriously. It would need to be turned into SIS. Kaile knew that. Asmus knew that.

So why did she feel a little bit of loss?

[ A little sharper? ] came the Lorrdian's inquiry. [ Well depends; although she does have some nice curves on her. ]

The woman went through a few names and key phrases through her mind.

[ Have to be something fitting. ]

With her clean lines, shiny appearance, and the tiny white interior, it made Kaile think of the sky. Of the sun.

[ Solaris. ]

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

"Works for me," Asmus replied. "Think it suits her more." The volume of his voice was slowly dropping. His words not slurring, but definitely being pronounced slowly and carefully. Declaring it 'ours', thinking of a name together, he was oblivious to which memories this evoked.

[I like it too,] Jay added. Once again he connected his data spike to the console.

[The next panel down, there is a dataport. I have calculated a new integrity value that must be uploaded before you confirm a new designation.]

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

There was something intimate about naming the ship together. Kaile let her eyes fall to the data disk, a slight clench of her jaw following suit.

[ Okay. ]

Her finger went drifting past the exposed cube and slid down to the next panel. Her fingers curled around, and she saw another series of neatly snapped on datasheets.

[ Found the data port. ]

 

[Asmus Janes]

There was something in the way she said 'okay' this time that caught Asmus' attention. Drew him from his reverie. Which was almost a shame; his mind had drifted between a nice cozy tent in a secluded woods to the shore outside his beach house.

He couldn't quite tell what had triggered a touch of anxiety, but assumed she was having a hard time with the transponder. His eyes came open quite abruptly.

[If you can get past the security around the logic board you need to overwrite it with what I'm downloading to that terminal. When done the transponder will ask you to key in the new name. You must do it exactly correctly.] Jay then read out the spelling of Solaris just to be entirely certain. With a capital S.

Asmus could have asked 'is everything alright?'. He knew what the problem was, knew that he couldn't have helped. If he'd been in a shuttle under fire and a passenger had asked that question he likely would have scoffed.

"Yeah, I like the name," he said softly instead.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

Working around past the logic board would take a few more additional seconds.

[ One sec, just let me -- ] a small pinch of her lips and the espion took to adjusting a few lines of code.

[ You weren't joking about the security, Jay Four. ] Kaile added, choosing to focus on not blowing up the reactor instead of the odd, touching moment of naming a ship.

[ Top of the line security. Just who was your former master? ] she inquired, satisfied with the scramble and slicing of the datadisk she held in her hand.

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

[Charles Atherton. He was very pro-imperial before it was popular to be so in these parts,] Jay replied. [To be honest he didn't need the security he did, but he was constantly paranoid that ordinary people were dangerous. He believed that many were more animalistic that the well bred humans and thus needed a firm hand.]

"Well he just sounds lovely," Asmus replied sarcastically.

[He was not.]

Asmus grinned at the droids missing the inflection.

[His business practises were also quite unethical.]

"Might be we could borrow some of that information Jay and see about making them unprofitable too. If you'd be amenable. Is it done Kaile?" he asked hopefully.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]The banter was easing the edge off the tension again. Kaile took the the data disk in hand and her eyes swirled blue. A HUD bloomed over her corona and after three seconds, a small update appeared. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ Time to see if we will all blow to the Nine Hells in two hours. ] was answer enough. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ I bypassed against the security protocols. ] a small click and then the data disks was secured back in its cradle. Now it was up to Jay Four and she then was able to start typing in the new name. Capital S. O. L. A. R. I. S.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]//… enter? [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]The small blue letters seemed to taunt her. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ Okay, here we go. ][/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt]A forefinger selected the button to accept the change. The electronics seemed to hum for a moment, before the blue panel slid back inside. [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

Asmus couldn’t help but scrunch up his eyes as he waited for Jay to speak. He heard the buzz of his dataspike twisting within the port.

[Bad news.]

“Shit.”

[The outer port engines is reporting a blockage in the ion inlet valve. We will need to put down and replace it before attempting any sudden maneuvers.]

Asmus’ jaw dropped. “And the death trap?”

[Oh. That’s fine. I would have sounded more urgent if we’d all been about to die. I’m sure.]

Kaile would hear Asmus’ sigh with crystal clarity from her corridor.

[The transponder is functioning with its new ID. Your ship is now the Solaris.]

Asmus chuckled. “Well, we have a ship. And a new droid.”

[Will you let me off the ship?]

Asmus thought he caught a genuinely nervous tone in the voice. “Of course. Kaile, you heading back up?”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]


[SIZE=9pt]Kaile expelled the breath she had been holding. Oh Stars, that was close. Even the Force couldn't help her with fixing everything. That they managed to ensure the transponder was now working as intended under the new name was a relief. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ we can take care of that on kayri. ] Kaile elaborated, providing more information. She shut the panel and made sure it locked. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ certainly better than blowing up. ] and far more manageable. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=9pt][ in a bit… I might look around. We don't need more surprises. I'll head on over to the reactor.] [/SIZE]

 

[Asmus Janes]

Asmus found his foot was tapping on the floor. He gave it a stern glare and it stopped. The knot in his chest started to unwind. He realised that the note of concern that had touched Kaile's reports and questions he started to fray how own nerves a little.

“If you have any none… explode-y news for us. Please don't preface it with bad news. Perhaps minor quibble but…

“You get the idea.”

[I do see why perhaps you… Kaile he is getting up and moving to the control console.]

“Oh you tattle tale!” Asmus said as he slipped into the copilot's chair. He was in no mood for settling back for a nap now so was going to have a little rummage of his own.

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]



[ Asmus, what are you doing?! ] so she hadn't stepped away from the dome yet. Her voice was crystal clear; as was the notable edge of concern in her voice.

[ Am I gonna have to lock you up in one of these rooms so you'll sit tight? ]

That made Jay Four swing his head around. The pale ocular detectors settling on Asmus.

[ Tattle tale? How rude. ] he promptly added.

[ you need your rest. ] Kaile added, her brows furrowing tight. Drugged up as he was she'd figured he'd be more malleable to the suggestion. Then again, Asmus was always moving on his own terms.

 

[Asmus Janes]

“I will, promise,” Asmus replied to Kaile. “I'll go rest in a few.” His eyes traced over the controls. He'd left his subconscious to map them out earlier so he could focus on flying. This time he gave them some thought.

“Why is there a launcher control?”

[The Solaris is equipped with several advance Theed Hangar probes. They have never been launched.]

Asmus tapped at a console and brought up some information. Typing with one hand was frustratingly awkward.

“Kaile, these are amazing. We can fire a probe from hyperspace down our trajectory and passively scan for ships before we arrive.”

 

[Kaile Vera]

[member="Asmus Janes"]

[ We can do what? ] Unaware of just how the comm system worked and how she'd be able to send a transmission back meant that Kaile was lingering along side the panel she'd just shut before. Did he still have the glasses he gave her on him? Honestly, Kaile couldn't recall.

[ What sort of probes? ] While Kaile knew of Theed Hanger and the type of ships it manufactured, their products with sensing and scanning hadn't really been kept up to date for the espion. She was more of the hands on agent. Not the sort to merely send space probes to collect information. This was more Asmus' speciality.

[ What else does the ship have? ]

 

[Asmus Janes]

[member="Kaileann Vera"]

“Let’s have a look here…” Asmus started to reply.

[The Solaris is equipped with both superluminal and intra-system advanced probe droids,] Jay interrupted. [They offer comprehensive, broad spectral analysis and long range transmission. I am not certain how Atheron came to own them, but he seems to have purchased them merely to show off his wealth without putting actual ordnance on his ship. Asmus is quite correct in his assessment, we could launch a SURAC module when we are approximately thirty minutes out from Kayri and find out if any imperial ships have overtaken us at lightspeed. Actually, that is highly improbable. Even at a slow cruise to save the engines from Asmus’ appalling treatment we can outpace most imperial cruisers. Of course that does not rule out the potential of a hyperspace comm signal to…]

“I think we’ve got it Jay,” Asmus said. He was keen to let the droid engage in conversation but was becoming concerned he was getting stuck in a loop.

[Also, Kaile, you will find a handheld comm-unit tied to the ships intercom in the cabinet behind you.] His primary function was to anticipate his master’s needs ahead of time after all.