One Flew Over the Nano Nest....

[Judah Dashiell]

Post Clockwork - Coruscant

Judah lay on the bed in his extremely small, windowless room. It had been his 'home' ever since he was released from the MedBay following treatment for the blaster wound to his hip. The young pilot wasn't so sure if his time spent in the psychiatric treatment center had actually done any good. Judah certainly didn't feel any better, instead it was rounds of therapy with his shrink and quite a bit of anti-anxiety medication. Most of the time he was either confined to this room or trying to sneak a cigarette in the indoor garden complex.

Dressed and ready to leave, Judah wondered who was busting him out of this place. His brow furrowed, perhaps his shrink had contacted his parents and they were coming to get him. Saleucami was far away from the Core and his family wasn't exactly rich, so Judah was hoping this wasn't the case. Probably for the best as well, he didn't want to let them down. First time seeing their youngest son in three years in this state wouldn't be pleasant. Judah had only a couple friends on Coruscant, none of which knew he was here. No one knew he was here....

Panic ran through him at the next thought, what if the owner of those creatures that infected him was the one coming?Somehow disguised and ready to take Judah back as a slave. He couldn't go back. Closing his eyes, he silently wished that Army officer would have killed him when he begged.Between the flashbacks and the nightmares he had pieced enough together to get the gist of what he had done. He wasn't fit to be considered a human being anymore. Perhaps it was better if that damned droid came back for him.

"Judah?...Judah" Dr.Zemke's voice called into the room.

Opening his eyes,the young pilot carefully sat up."Yes?"

"Its time to go."

Judah tried to look around the Doc. If he was leaving this place he wanted to know with who....

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]Iced-azure gaze locked onto Judah, taking in the pilot’s shape. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]It wasn’t good.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“Hey…Judah,” it was the first time in a long time she didn’t call him Kid. Things had changed since she confronted his droid corrupted form with Davin and his squad. But she felt completely out of her element. But one thing was for certain, she felt responsible for Judah.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]With a few weeks of built up time-off, she decided to cash-in and spend some time to make sure the young rebel got better.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“You ready? The doc thought it would be a good idea if you stayed with someone you knew for a while. And I volunteered.” [/SIZE]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Of all the people coming to pick him up it had to be Thessa Kai. She was talking to him like he was about to jump off a ledge. His eyes flicked to the shrink and back to Thessa. Weren't those shrinky-threapy sessions private? Apparently not to this Doctor, because he was getting the weird look and vibe from his superior. Sighing, Judah picked up his duffle and walked to Thessa, doing so with a slight limp.

"Hey Boss"

Wow, no Kid?I must look bad....At the news of having to stay with Captain Kai for some time almost made him lose it. Not that he wasn't grateful to leave or that fact she came and got him. Things were too...complicated on his end.

"So....I don't get to go to my place. No one told me that..." Judah frowned at the Doc. Resigned to his fate, it was best to merely follow Thessa out.Judah moved closer to his boss, talking quietly so only she would hear.

"Are you sure I can't go home?I'm fine....I just can't be around droids." Yes, it was a vast understatement but at the same time Judah was trying to get out of being a roommate for a few weeks.

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]Nodding to the Doc beyond Judah’s shoulder she walked with him out, stopping at the front desk to officially release Judah. Once they were both in the speeder, she finally spoke to the swarthy-looking pilot. “Judah. Let’s agree on something right now. We’ve never had a problem with being honest with each other. The thing is, you’re not fine. You know it. And I know it.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Pulling into some apartments on base, the Galan powered down the speeder and turned to face her fellow rebel. “I’ll tell you what. I’ve taken the next two weeks off and don’t look so shocked,” aqua lips curved into a thin smile. “Yes, Thessa Kai takes time off. Anyway, stay with me for two weeks and after that, you can decide if you’re ready to live on your own again. Deal?”[/SIZE]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah frowned just a little, there was no way out. Thessa seemed to have it in her mind that he was indeed playing the role of roommate due to his lack of mental stability. He was going to open his mouth to object that he could just as easily go crazy while she was attending to her duties as Captain.He was only half-paying attention at this point, until the word off come into his brain. Time off?Thessa Kai took time off?

"Yeah,deal."

Stepping out of the speeder, Judah saw some droids working on an apartment building within the sprawling complex. It looked like...his on-base apartment building.He stared off into space a moment, growing a little panicky inside before turning back to Thessa.

"Y-Y-You got the short end of the stick Boss" Judah said as he stuck his hands deep in his pockets so Thessa couldn't see them shake. Inclining his head towards the building in front of them, Judah slowly made it to her place, trying to act normal. Inside was another story. His brain was screaming at him to run, fight, hide...something.

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]Short end of the stick…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“Don’t I know it,” she laughed, “No more paperwork for the nuggets, droid maintenance, or boring officer meetings for the next two weeks!” She laughed, a lopsided half-forced grin on aqua lips as her gaze followed to where Judah looked.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]It was a good thing Sparky was hangar bound during her scheduled time with Judah.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“C’mon,” her voice surprisingly gentle. “Let me show you the place you’ve always probably dreaded to see.” She really thought Judah viewed her something like a Principal and now he was stuck inside the Principal’s office for the next two weeks. Taking the lift, they exited on the seventh floor. Pushing her shoulder against the door, she managed to get it open. “I’ve been meaning to get that fixed…” stepping inside, she gave Judah a pointing tour of the small space. “Kitchen there, bathroom, living room, and bedroom.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]It was a small space. One bedroom, one bath. Republic flight captains didn’t make that much and clearly weren’t in it for the money. “Got any questions?”[/SIZE]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah was a bit confused. Dreading to see? Where did Captain Kai gather these conclusions?Maybe it was because he was so sullen about being released with Thessa. It wasn't the person, but the situation. It was difficult being treated like he was going to jump off a bridge at any second. Difficult because he wasn't his normal self at the moment.

Once inside, it was safe enough to take a deep breath and relax. Somehow he had made it without going into a full blown anxiety attack. Crumpled on the ground in front of his boss wasn't very appealing....

"Better than my place across the way. I know what to look forward to if I ever get promoted."

Questions?Yes, many. However, it didn't seem like the time for half of them. He did have two weeks to get them out of his system, might as well space them apart for the sake of conversation.

"So you're going to sit and stare at me for two weeks? Still the short end of this Boss" Judah could think of a thousand different ways Thessa could be spending her time. Here she was babysitting him. His brow furrowed and he took a seat on the couch.

"Why are you even doing this?Not that I'm complaining. Just confused"

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]It was good to hear Judah talk like that even if he was jesting. It meant he hadn’t given up. He was still fighting and she knew he had a long way to go.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]She laughed and shook her blue-streaked driftwood haired head. “I had a few other things in mind than playing the staring game.” Grabbing an apple from the counter she offered it to Judah, as she took a handful of dried kelp chips.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Lowering herself into a chair opposite the pilot, she kicked her booted feet up on the coffee table. Iced-azure gaze regarded Judah thoughtfully for a moment. And suddenly, she was tired. Ever since they found him, she had been worrying and finally, finally, she felt like she could let some of that worry go, just a little bit.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“You’re my responsibility,” her voice was quiet, again, she was sure it was something Judah wasn’t used to. “I’m sorry I let you down,” she continued, “I should’ve seen the signs earlier…I should’ve known, gotten to you sooner,” voice trailed off.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“I’m doing this not only because you’re my responsibility but because I care, Judah.” She had no doubt Mazen would’ve done the same for any of his pilots and even Dirks….[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]A flicker of pain crossed her features, as she popped a kelp chip in her mouth.[/SIZE]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah nearly choked on his apple when that quiet voice spoke up again. Recovering quickly, he started to wonder if this really was the Thessa Kai that directed him around the hangar and skies with ease.There was a vulnerable side to her all of the sudden. Did she get replaced by those droids?The real Thessa is off somewhere...or dead?Wow, that's really paranoid there Jud.

"First off, I appreciate you care but I'm hardly your responsibility out of the skies Boss." Judah leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees and catching Thessa's ice-blue eyes."Secondly and most importantly, its not your fault. Did you release the nanites into my system?No. I was the idiot who went out with a pack of other pilots for a celebration."

If he was bolder at the moment, Judah might have went over and offered Thessa a hug, some type of comfort. Obviously he wasn't the only one who came out of this situation bearing scars. Boss apparently was excellent at hiding them.

"You can stop blaming yourself now." Judah finished, voice soft, as if he was trying to coax a scared animal out of hiding. In many ways he was, this was uncharted territory in terms of his experience with Thessa Kai.

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]She blinked, for the first time feeling vulnerable around the dark-haired pilot. It was hard to look away from those brown eyes. “Dash. It’s not that simple. What if I had run extra drills that night? What if I…,” voice trailed off and hands came up to bury her scale-speckled face in her hands for a moment. Slowly, she withdrew them, gaze looking at Judah above her fingertips.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“Hey. I’m here to take care of you, not the other way around.” A crooked smile fell on aqua lips. “I knew being a flight captain would be hard, I just had no idea how much so until I started,” again, the thoughtful quiet voice. And it wasn’t just that. This was the first time a guy would be living with her again, since Dirks.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Of course it would be a completely different situation, but still. Sharing close-quarters with an attractive pilot was something she had tried to forget and tried to avoid. Thank the stars Judah just saw her as a boss. Right?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“What about you? You know nothing that happened was your fault, right?” Softened gaze focused on Dash, leaning forward in her seat.[/SIZE]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah sat back up, shaking his head."We still would have went out. The guys already had it planned, even if we had to stay late. Almost everyone had the next day off......Don't blame yourself. Blame testosterone and alcohol."

Her musings about being a Flight Captain were interesting. Judah wondered if this was her dream or was it something she merely chose due to the secure employment and length of career. There seemed to be something....else below the surface. Maybe Thessa really was regretting taking him in, not that he could blame her. The crazy guy who tried killing you as a roommate?Yeah, everyone was signing up for that.

"Of course not Boss.Just something that happened" Judah lied smoothly. He had been practicing since the looney bin. It helped him get released early in fact. He hated lying to Thessa but it was the only choice he had. This was his burden to bear.

"Hey Boss? I'm kinda tired. Do you have a spare pillow so I can stretch out on the couch here?"

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]Gaze narrowed for a moment. His answer felt off. But she wasn’t going to push him, not this time.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]She was tired too.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Kicking her feet off the table, she stood up. “Help yourself to anything in the ice-box or any of the food. I’ll take the couch. You take my room. “ Aqua lips curled into a thin smile, “And don’t worry, I don’t own that many girlie things, so it should be comfortable enough.”[/SIZE]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Her room? Judah already had not-so-pure thoughts about his superior and now she was expecting him to go in there and sleep in her bed? No way would that work out. Too many issues to begin with.

"No, go to your room. I'll be more comfortable out here. Plus, its your bed Boss. Wouldn't that be just a little weird?"

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]Arms crossed stubbornly over her chest and she shot Judah with the Kai glare. “This couch is way too small for you. Admit it; you’ll sleep better in a real bed. The sheets are clean. Why is it weird? It’s not like we’ll be sleeping in the bed together…”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Oh. Now it was awkward. Scale-speckled cheeks blushed a rosy-hue. She pushed past the awkward moment, trying to get back on her Flight Captain authority-face. [/SIZE]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah sighed, exasperated. Couldn't Thessa merely listen to him and just agree? Yes the couch was small but it was no big deal in his eyes, there was always the floor.When she mentioned the sleeping together he saw her stumble. Bingo. Thessa had basically answered her own question, just very indirectly.

"Listen uh Thessa." Judah grew real quiet. This time, he couldn't lie his way out like he did just moments ago."I am head over heels attracted to you. You have no idea how much....this is why I just can't run off in sleep in your bed.Its too...you know"

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]Mouth fell open. “What?” She stammered, “You…you hate me!” Her burst rang through the small space between them. “All those extra laps around the hangar, the late nights waxing the birds. Every single order you fought me on, Judah.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Foot tapped and she stared him down, unsure of what to do. This was so against protocol and she could get fired…[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“I’ll have you transferred to a new squadron in the morning. But for tonight, you’re sleeping in that room. You need better sleep more than I do, I can see the dark circles under your eyes from here. And want to know the truth?” Face hardened. She hoped it wouldn’t come to this, but Judah was forcing her hand. Of course she wasn’t giving up her bed for this reason but she knew it had a good chance of shutting him up. “I’ll sleep better if I’m between you and the door.”[/SIZE]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"I fight you on those orders because I don't know why.... I feel like thats the only time you might show a bit more of your personality. The one who lives behind that Captain Kai facade."

Transfer?What the hell? Okay maybe he had been too unrealistic. Judah knew Thessa probably didn't like him but to go so far as kicking him out of the Squadron? That cut close to the gut but wasn't the final blow. The final blow came when she said he was untrustworthy. It felt like his whole world had come crashing down. For a second, just for a second he felt like she might have understood him a little.

"Anything you say, Captain" Judah let disdain drip into his voice, but also hurt.He could handle being rejected but basically being called a psychopathic killer by his own Boss?Forcing him out the Squad? That had crushed him.

Saying no more, Judah brushed past Thessa and shut the bedroom door.

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]“We’ll talk about this more in the morning,” she huffed after him.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]She sighed and when the door shut, only when it was completely closed, did she allow herself to collapse back into the chair. Aqua-lips trembled and her eyes burned. Hands came to cover her face as her shoulders shook silently.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]This was going to be harder than she thought. His words hurt more than she wanted to admit, more than she imagined. Palms pushed the moisture from her face. Changing into a tank top and shorts, she grabbed a blanket and curled up on the couch. Sleep didn’t come for a long time.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]One step ahead was quickly replaced by five gigantic steps back.[/SIZE]

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah sat on the edge of the bed,too angry and too hurt to sleep. Who could sleep after that? Waiting, he did know of something he could do.....

An hour and three panic attacks after silently escaping from Captain Kai's apartment, Judah was in the lower mid-levels of Coruscant. Why was he here? A while back a fellow pilot had told him about a dangerous underground shockboxing ring. Shockboxing was like regular boxing, only with electrical gloves that delivered shocks to an opponent-depending on how it was set.

He had already went one round, a little banged up and bruised. Judah stood shirtless, shoeless and smoking a cigarette while waiting his next turn. It wouldn't be long now, the last boxer to fight his opponent had passed out. Oh wait....this one just did too. Taking a long drag, Judah tossed the cigarette out as he was called up to the ring. It was incredibly loud in the old warehouse space. People hollering out bets, girls trying to make a quick buck. It all had a seedy quality one would find on Tatooine, not Corusant.

Taking his spot, the electical charge on the gloves was upped. Real pain was going to set in now....thats what he wanted. The bell dinged and the fight was on, Judah dancing around a burly blue-skinned alien. A quick punch to the alien. Growing a little overconfident, Judah tried to throw up a fake punch and a real one, only to be socked in the gut. Electrical current added to his misery as he bent over for a second, trying to catch his breath. This was more like it.

 

[Thessa Kai]

[SIZE=10pt]To say Thessa Kai was ticked, was an understatement of the galaxy. She still couldn’t believe he had managed to sneak out…after all that. She must’ve really been tired. Next time she was going to put a lock on the doors, from the inside![/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]It wasn’t too hard to track the rogue pilot down. People knew who he was and they talked. She didn’t even bother changing. Blue-streaked driftwood hair a mess with shorts, tank top, and bare-feet she found herself outside of the shock-boxing ring.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]Throwing her dog-tags in the bucket, she put herself up next. The blue-skinned alien fell eventually. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Judah’s face as he turned to see his next opponent. Trying to shake out her stiff limbs, the flight Captain stepped into the ring.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt]“Don’t think you can get rid of me that easily, Dash.” Gloves raised in ready as the bell-sounded, mouth guard securely in place. There was a small scar on her arm that glistened off her skin from the lighting in the ring. [/SIZE]