Private Unknown Territory

[Sabine Galen]

All the way back to their bungalow, Sabine’s mind lingered on that moment in the surf.

The two of them had stood in the warm water, silhouetted by the painterly sunset that had colored the sky. Both of them had been dripping wet because of their playful tumble into the waves and she remembered the way Cassius had drawn her close, his arms around her. The only thing that could have made the moment more perfect was a kiss.

An actual kiss.

Such a tease, the thought made her smile as she towel-dried her hair. Still, it made her think. If it hadn’t happened then… when? Oh my. Did he know how much she wanted to kiss him… could he sense that? She bit her lip as she faced her reflection in the mirror.

He did want to, right? Of course! He’d already kissed her twice on the forehead and once in the cheek, but who was counting? And this was, by far, the most affection they had ever openly shown each other. Sabine furrowed her brow, she’d thought about it too much. So much that a small pang of anxiety now accompanied the thought. It was unlike her—a Jedi—to dwell on such feelings… but during this trip, she just wanted to be normal. And so, she decided this was very normal for someone so new to dating.

Walking out of the refresher, she spotted Cassius waiting out on the deck. Sabine joined him with a smile and gazed out towards the horizon, where the sun had just retreated for the day. Her smile grew when Cassius spoke, and she nodded in agreement.

“Me too,” she said, turning slightly as he drew her close once more. This time, her arms rose to drape about his shoulders. And as she felt his thumb against her cheek, she instinctively tilted her chin up just so.

And when he kissed her, there was a peaceful quiet in her mind, and a gentle flow of warmth in the force around them as their presences mingled.

Okay, this was perfect.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

His heart swelled as she melted into him, and he breathed in deeply as he pulled her in even tighter. He found himself being so thankful for this trip, and weirdly, so thankful for Sabine’s father. If it wasn’t for this, how much longer would they have gone on like they had before? Feeling everything, but saying nothing – just skirting around the issue. Perhaps it would have gotten to an explosive point… but this way, things could progress naturally.

Like normal people.

The next morning, as the sun rose, Cassius’s eyes slowly opened to the bright room around them. As the sun was rising on the opposite side of where the large glass door was, the ambient light was warm, but almost perfectly dim. His body was still tired, and didn’t want to move, and he wasn’t about to, not with his current configuration.

Sabine was sleeping soundly curled up next to him, her head on his shoulder, arm on his chest, breathing deeply. Cass closed his eyes and sighed in contentment, tracing her arm with his finger before lightly clasping her hand in his.

The rest of the night had gone well – they stayed out on the deck well after sunset, had some more Merenzane Gold and chocolate covered strawberries, and had some light conversation. For once, they could talk about things other than ancient societies or dusty old temples. Cassius liked talking about those things, of course – they were of great interest to him, but just talking to someone on an intimate yet casual level was so freeing… he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been like that with anyone else.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine stirred slightly. Her lids starting to flutter open, but she made a little sound, like a tired whine and defiantly closed her eyes tight. This is the best bed ever, she thought as she enjoyed the comfort of being ensconced in such luxurious sheets and blankets.

So cozy.

Then, she realized that she'd been using Cassius as a pillow, and probably hugging him in her sleep with her arm draped over his chest. He made this the best bed. Nestled next to him, there was a pocket of warmth that she never wanted to leave. And as she drew a deep breath, she took in his scent, too. Sabine had encroached upon his side of the bed, and she wasn't sorry.

“Good morning,” she murmured softly next to his ear and then nuzzled affectionately against his shoulder. This newfound closeness was exciting, but it was also deeply comforting. And being able to express the feelings that had previously been so pent up was a sigh of relief. She'd had fun last night, just getting to know Cassius on a whole new level. No distractions, no worries, and no archaeology talk. Sabine had experienced nothing like this before, and she never wanted it to end.

However, she had a feeling that things would be different when they eventually returned to the Spectre Melody. But it would be good-different. For now, however, she did not want to waste any time thinking about the future; she'd soak up every moment right here with Cassius.

“Sleep well?” she asked, curious to know. She'd certainly slept very well.

There was a tiny knock at their door that only made Sabine cling to Cassius and a muffled tone outside saying, “breakfast for you.” Ah, yes... their chef-cooked breakfasts would be waiting beneath cloches when they were ready.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

He answered her morning greeting by craning his neck and kissing the top of her head, using this thumb to lightly stroke her arm. Part of him mused how productive they’d be in the future if every morning was like this – not wanting to get up at all.

“Mmhmm,” he hummed, “Like a rock.” He squeezed her arm a little. Now that he thought about it, he definitely needed to find out what this bed was made out of, and whether he could install a similar one on the Spectre Melody. He had no idea just how firm his cushioned bed on the Spectre was – his back felt amazing. “It’ll definitely be hard going back to sleep on a ship,” he chuckled.

There was a knock at the door, and Cassius tensed for a moment before realizing it was their breakfast being delivered. Curious – he was so tangled in presence with Sabine that it seemed his usually sharp Jedi senses had been dulled. Perhaps he was realizing just how insecure and paranoid he normally felt, and this was what it felt like to actually relax.

“Don’t move,” he muttered, kissing Sabine on the head once more before swinging his legs out from under the covers. He padded with bare feet out to the front door, where a repulsor cart was waiting with a covered tray. Pulling the cart in and closing the door, he guided it back into the bedroom, where he took the tray off the cart, realizing that the tray was installed with repulsors, as well.

He reclaimed his side of the bed, sitting up a little as the tray floated over the two of them. “You first,” he said, wondering what was on the menu for today.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine reluctantly let Cassius go to answer the door. She smiled and closed her eyes as he placed a kiss on her forehead before leaving. And she followed his instructions, staying bundled up and toasty warm in bed. When he entered the room again with a cart, she pushed up to her elbows to see, and then sat up. Reaching up, she finger-combed her hair a couple of times, just to make sure it wasn't sticking up.

She welcomed Cassius back into the bed with a kiss on the cheek, like he'd been gone much longer than a whole sixty seconds. Smiling, she glanced sidelong at him and then nodded. “Okay, let's see what we've got.”

Pulling the cover off the tray and setting it to the side, her eyes widened at the delicious-looking spread. For starters, there was a little pot of caf, two mugs, and two flutes of fresh-squeezed tropical fruit juice. A small plate of crepes had been artfully arranged for each of them; one savory with bantha sausage and egg, and the other sweet with fruit and cream. There was a bowl—a melon cut in half and skillfully shaped into a basket—filled with bite-sized pieces of jewel-fruit and tender bits of Meiloorun.

“Wow,” she said, arching her brows. “Do you think we can get Tee to make us breakfast like this every day?” Sabine laughed at the thought.

There were also a couple of plain croissants with butter, but Sabine didn't think she'd have the room. Lifting a fork, she tucked into the sweet crepe and gave a little “Mmmm,” to affirm that it was very, very good.

“So, there's a bazaar today,” she started, “Want to do some shopping? I think we should find something to bring back for my father.” Sabine said with a nod. “And I want some souvenirs, too.”

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

At the sight of the cover being lifted, Cassius’s eyes widened a little. Breakfast wasn’t exactly a meal that he ate in abundance, especially while traveling. Whenever there was something offered, however, he never failed to take up on it. Something tasty and light to start the day was a great way to get some energy. Immediately, he stabbed a piece of meiloorun fruit and popped it into his mouth – his favorite.

He poured himself a glass of fruit juice and took a sip as Sabine mused about T-4D4 being their personal chef. Chuckling, he answered, “Well, droids can be reprogrammed to do almost anything – who’s to say I couldn’t install some cooking subroutines? We’d never hear the end of it, though. No matter how hard any one could try, there’s no taking out his sarcastic bite. That’s permanent.”

Cassius continued to eat, making sure not to eat too fast or too much – he didn’t need to feel queasy before their day even started. He listened as Sabine mentioned a bazaar, quirking an eyebrow and his mouth forming an upside down U shape. “That sounds like it could be fun,” he said. “I think we could find some hidden gems, with our expertise.” They would hopefully be able to tell what was a real artifact and what was fake, after all.

“What kind of stuff does your father like, anyways? Other than… historical stuff, like we do.”

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine had a good laugh when Cassius mentioned T-4D4's sarcasm. And she wondered what the droid might say when he saw them together now, with all of their affectionate stares and hand-holding.

She finished her crepe with dainty bites and chased it with a few sips of caf—fuel for the day. “For sure,” she said, nodding. With their backgrounds and experience, they’d definitely have a great chance of recognizing the real deals. Not to mention the force would help them gauge whether the vendors were telling the truth about their wares.

Sabine lifted a brow and thought about her father. He was very dedicated to his work, he even spent his spare time reading and doing research. Aside from archaeology, his hobbies were few. And though his tastes were quite refined, he rarely indulged them.

“He likes tea,” she said. “I’m sure he’d like some kind of local blend or a fruit tea or something.”

She knew her father was probably tickled that they’d agreed to go on the trip at all. Perhaps it would be fitting to bring him back a Sandy Dreams Resort shirt or mug.

Once breakfast was finished, Sabine sighed and sat back. For a moment, she contemplated just going back to sleep—but she eventually convinced herself to leave the bed. After gathering her clothes, she stepped into the refresher to get ready. She came out again in a black tank top paired with khaki-colored shorts, and her trusty boots—figuring it was a better choice than sandals for a day of walking.

“I should really look at some dresses while we’re here,” she said, scooping up her tote bag and putting it on her shoulder. “You ready?” Sabine smiled at Cassius, ready for some more island fun.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

Tea, Cassius reflected. Not exactly the young Jedi’s forte. Perhaps there was some sort of ancient tea set he could get his hands on… they’d have to get go explore the bazaar and see. He tried to put some thought into gifts like that, especially now that he was… with the man’s daughter.

As Sabine prepared for their outing, Cassius put on a simple outfit more typical to what he usually wore on missions with low risks involved – a tunic, pants, and boots. No hefty utility belt or lightsaber, though, and he wouldn’t be loaded down with gear. A simple belt with a datapad and a small pouch for credits should be fine.

“Dresses?” Cassius asked when Sabine mentioned them. “I don’t think I’ve ever even seen you in a dress before,” he laughed. “I’ve gotta see this. I’m definitely ready.”

Without much hesitation, they were out the door and walking back towards the resort. The bazaar was on the other side of the spaceport where they had landed. It was a long line of covered stands. This place seemed way less hectic and noisy than other markets he had been to – this definitely felt like it was rather designed to be seen and experienced like a typical crazy bazaar, but kept tame enough for their more upper-class guests.

Meat sizzled on durasteel pans, colorful and elegant fabrics hanged across stalls, fine jewelry glinted in whatever light would hit it. Couples, young and old, slowly paced around, marveling at all of the goods and paying probably way too much for them.

“You know,” he said, leaning into Sabine, “if we find some good food, maybe we could cook for ourselves tonight. It’d be just like on the Spectre, but, you know, way better.”

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

As they entered the bazaar—just one of many couples out for a stroll—her smile only grew. She'd seen many markets during her travels, and this one certainly impressed. Beautiful fabrics flapped in the sea breeze, and Sabine stared, almost entranced. There was something magical about this place; not to mention, she didn't feel like she would be pick-pocketed at any moment like at other markets.

Her attention was drawn in many directions, but she focused on Cassius when he turned to her. “Great idea,” she said, grinning. “It'll be nice to cook something really fresh.”

And as she took a breath of air that was laced heavily with spices, she had a feeling they'd probably pick up a few snacks on their way through. Still lightly grasping Cassius's arm, she enjoyed their leisurely pace and the feeling of being so close to his side. But she soon let go and wandered into a stall that had some beautifully airy textiles on display. Looking around in wonder, she let her fingertips brush against the fabric.

“Lovely,” she murmured and smiled.

A rather portly vendor smiled from behind a sheet of white fabric that was something like a make-shift sewing space. “Handmade,” she said in accented basic, gesturing widely.

Sabine lifted a scarf-like jacket off the rack and put it on over her tank and shorts. She was instantly sold on the dark blue color and pretty floral print. “I'm getting this one,” she said to the woman, and then meandered over to the dresses. So many choices! Dress shopping was foreign. What size was she? And what style would suit her frame the best? Sabine bit her lip. The first she pulled was light blue, patterned with white. She held it up to show Cassius. “What do you think... this one?”

Then she held up a black and white number, shorter and a bit off the shoulder. “Or this?” No matter his choice, he'd be carrying the shopping bags today... that definitely was the boyfriend's job.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

Cassius was about as unfamiliar with fashion as he was with tea, if not more so. For most of his life, he had lived in a place where no one even wore dresses – the icy Rinn was much too cold for that, even in the climate-controlled colonies. By the time he was on more temperate or mild planets, he was more focused on his Jedi studies, and as such were surrounded by those who also had a similar conservative dress code.

Quirking an eyebrow, Cassius didn’t hide his ignorance as his gaze danced between the two options. “I think… you’ll look good in both,” he finally said, accenting it with a soft smile as he looked up at her. “That being said, I think the blue might look better on you… and also, it’s a lighter color, so it won’t soak up as much sunlight and get all hot.” As always, he needed to have a practical, logical reason for everything… even clothing.

Rather suddenly, he got a strange feeling on the back of his neck, and he could have sworn he heard a willowy whisper in his ear. Due to his Jedi training, it wasn’t really that strange – it was a feeling of apprehension that the Force was giving him. This usually predicated some sort of looming danger, or that he was being watched. Turning slightly, he scanned the crowd, trying to extend his senses… but the feeling went away. His brow furrowed in confusion, nothing seemed out of place.

Shaking the feeling off, he looked back to Sabine. “So… black or blue?”

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine hid a giggle behind the back of her hand when Cassius's eyes seemed to glaze over at the sight of the dresses. But she took his words to heart, and gave the blue dress another look, holding it up to herself in front of a hanging mirror.

But as she gazed at her reflection, she had an odd feeling in her chest. Sabine, too, looked around the stall at the textiles that surrounded her as if looking for the source of a voice. However, as she turned her eyes back to Cassius, he was asking which dress she'd decided on.

“I'll go with blue,” she said, smile returning.

The vendor accepted Sabine's credits with a grateful grin and packaged the dress up in tissue before setting into a small paper bag. She'd chosen to wear her new light-weight jacket right out of the stall. Stepping out of the stall, she re-joined Cassius so they could continue on their way. However, instead of immediately reaching for his hand like before, she hugged her arms around herself for a long moment.

She didn't want to worry, so she tried to push the feeling from her mind.

“So, for dinner... I think a fresh salad would be nice,” she started, trying to get back into the island-living mode. “I'm sure we can find some poultry or bantha to grill.” As luck would have it, their stove back at the bungalow had a small grill-top. Grilling gave meat a nice flavor, and it was fairly easy to do... so long as the food wasn't left to burn.

They passed by a pottery stall that had beautifully sculpted wares and shining glazes in deep indigo hues. Sabine noted a few handmade tea cups and teapots, something to think about for her father's gift. But she paused outside a curio tent, one that shaded its wares from the general view. To enter, one had to part the curtain and duck inside. There was no telling what waited for them — could be neat or it could be super cheesy.

“Shall we give that one a go?” she nodded towards it.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

“That sounds pretty good,” Cassius said at the mention of salad. He was already thinking about what ingredients he’d want to grab for the meal. Salad was just about the perfect suggestion, actually – it required fresh ingredients, not exactly something they had on the Spectre Melody. Eating something grown and cultivated with care rather than processed would be a nice change of pace. “Should be some good vegetables too, and a ton of other stuff.”

The food section was a little bit further off. A pottery stall had momentarily caught their attention, and Cassius caught himself inspecting some of the craftsmanship of the clay and pondering which part of the galaxy it originated from. Another tent emanated a sense of wonder, however – one whose purpose had to be determined by exploration.

It was almost as if it was begging for the two of them to enter.

“Always a mystery to solve, right?” he punched his eyebrows up at her before taking her hand and stepping inside, using the Force to subtly move the curtain up and out of their way. The curtain fell back down behind them, and they were surrounded by darkness for a moment as their eyes adjusted. The inside fabric walls of the tent had starry space scenes, intricately woven tapestries that depicted nebulas, black holes, and various stellar phenomenon in stylized fashion. The interior was illuminated by black lanterns hanging from wiry hooks, burning with a sickly green glow. In front of them were some narrow wooden tables, where some trinkets lay.

That feeling ran up his spine again, and he heard the whisper.

Before he could dwell on it too long, a voice caught his attention. “Well, hello there…” it was feminine, croaking, and came from the back. A hunched over woman of diminutive stature came forward, as she had been standing behind a black cauldron that echoed that of the lanterns – it too giving off a green glow. Her hooked nose almost had the appearance of a beak, with a giant wart making it asymmetrical. Wild gray hair stuck out as if she had been recently electrocuted. As her mouth hung open in a snarling smile, Cassius noted that multiple teeth were missing.

“What can I do for the lovely couple this morning?” she asked, a thin eyebrow twitching upwards.

“We’re uh… just looking,” Cassius said, unsure how to respond to the strange woman.

The woman slowly waved her arms in a supposedly grand but weak gesture over the tables. “Look – items from all over the known galaxy, of various origins. Enchantments, spells, incantations!”

Cassius stole a glance over to Sabine. What an odd woman.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as Cassius took her hand and gently parted the curtain. As the flap of fabric closed behind them, leaving them in the dark, Sabine blinked a couple of times. With the starry sky of woven textiles above them and the lanterns lit with an otherworldly green light, it was almost like being transported to a strange and mystical place, far, far away from the laid-back island living of Sandy Dreams Resort.

Sabine instinctively moved closer to Cassius and held his hand a little tighter.

When the hunch-backed old woman stepped into the eerie green light, Sabine couldn't stop her eyes from growing wide. She certainly never pictured finding anyone like this old lady on the island, maybe in a swamp somewhere, yes, but not here. A tight smile flickered across Sabine's face, and she offered the woman a slight nod in greeting.

Meeting Cassius' gaze, she blinked. Odd indeed. But they were already here, and she didn't want to be rude. Maybe this was just some kind of grand act put on for visitors, or maybe... not. With a little shrug, Sabine edged closer to a table. Upon the black velvet draped over the table, there were a number of sparkling necklaces and rings. They even set some with rather exotic-looking gems, some of them even looked like they were... swirling with energy. It had to be a trick of the light, right?

Leaning in to inspect a ring, she marveled at the delicate setting in gold. It wasn't the sort of bauble she'd ever wear, but it was pretty. But she felt eyes upon her and glanced up to see the old woman flashing her a grin, missing teeth and all.

“You have some lovely things,” Sabine said, trying to be nice.

Then, she felt an icy breeze against her neck... and there was a distant voice in her ear. It was so clear that it made Sabine's head turn. And there, nestled among several other little statues... was a familiar figure. They'd found one just like it in the desert. Only, the one here in the curio shop was sitting atop what looked like a crystal of some sort.

“See anything you like?” the shopkeeper croaked.

But Sabine said nothing. She looked to Cassius to see if he'd honed in on the same object.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

Cassius was bent over at the waist somewhat, hands clasped behind his back. His eyes were squinted, and not just because of the dim light. He was back in full archaeologist mode now… he wanted to see these things up close, inspect some of the details. They were certainly exotic and unfamiliar, with a wide range of uses.

The cynic in him was beginning to think these were all just handmade by the woman, hyped up with mysticism in order to prey on the ignorance of oblivious tourists. As he looked closer, however, he noticed that many of these items looked like they came from different parts of the galaxy, with various stages of aging and some with emblazoned with insignia of times and factions long past. There was no way this proprietor could have made all of these. She was certainly a collector, which was for certain.

That feeling came back again. A chilling up his spine, a shifting of the air around him… the whisper. This time, his head nearly snapped in the direction of where the whisper had come from. It was a little statuette, only a few inches in height, sitting amongst others of similar size, but not of appearance. Even in the poor light, he could see that it was carved from some sort of porous, yellowish green stone, with crude runes scratched along the pedestal upon which the creature sat. The runes looked similar to those on the statuette they’d found on the desert planet… and on the obelisks they’d found at the sacrificial space.

He glanced over to Sabine – she’d caught sight of it as well. Reaching over, he picked it up off of the table and inspected it.

“Where’d you get this?” he asked, trying to sound casual, but there was a certain urgency to his voice.

Cassius could already feel some of the dark energy seeping into his fingers… a feeling of fear and anxiety creeping into the back of his mind. Instinctively, he reached out to Sabine, putting an arm around her waist and pulling her close – a need for comfort and support.

“That?” the shopkeeper asked. She was feigning ignorance, but a sly smile was forming on her weathered and cracked face. “I got that… oh, somewhere in the Outer Rim, or Wild Space. Could have been that village on Ganath… or maybe the mountains of Taloraan…”

“We’ll take it,” Cassius said, with almost no hesitation. He kept turning it over and over in his fingers, trying to hold it up to the light.

This could certainly put a little dent in their vacation.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine watched as Cassius inspected the strange idol, and her mind traveled back in time to the desert tomb. Then, back to the ritual they'd interrupted—and the fire. Her heart dropped a little at the memory. And her eyes narrowed slightly when she looked towards the statue in Cassius' hand.

What was this dark little thing doing here of all places?

As Cassius put an arm around her, she stayed close to him, her palm gently against the front of his tunic. Even standing there, she could feel the darkness, too. As Cassius said they'd take it, the old woman's eyes seemed to shine and her smile only grew. Sabine swallowed hard, side-eyeing the statue as Cassius turned it in the light, each side etched with those mysterious runes.

When they left the tent, the idol did, too, at a bargain price—for such a nice couple—so she'd assured them. Now the statue was hidden inside a black velvet pouch in Cassius' possession. As they neared the rows of vendors, the fresh produce was abundant. Leafy greens waited for them, along with vibrant veggies in all various colors and shapes. Exotic fruit was arranged in baskets, ready to take home—the ones with shuura fruit seemed to be quite popular.

Walking close to Cassius' side, she bit her bottom lip and stopped short.

“I have a bad feeling about this,” she confessed in a hushed tone.

Her fingers tugged the hem of her tank top, a bit anxious. Of course, she'd had this feeling before – something she remembered vividly from the swamps where they'd looked for the miner's and their families. Maybe it was nothing to worry about, and Sabine drew a breath to try to center herself again. And she tried to show Cassius a smile.

“It's probably nothing,” she added. “But don't you think it's just... strange that we found that here?”

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

Leaving the tent, Cassius had one arm around Sabine, but his other was cocked somewhat at his side, his hand resting on the pouch on his belt where he’d put the statuette. His fingers drummed against the pouch, his brows furrowed in concentration. He was no longer looking around at the various stalls to view the merchant’s wares, but instead looking at the ground in front of them as they walked, only glancing up occasionally to avoid a passing couple or step around a stall.

When Sabine stopped short, Cassius walked a step further, his arm sliding out from her and he instead gingerly held her hand in his. He could see the concern laced on her face – the same feeling of anxiety that would be clearly seen on his visage as well. She tried to hide it, to smile back at him, but Cassius’s expression remained unchanged.

“It is strange,” he said, “and I don’t know if it’s much of a coincidence, either.” What were the odds, after all? They had been studying these strange artifacts for a while now – Cassius had found no mention of them before in his studies. Yet, they had encountered these things, as well as a cult, within such a short period of time. The galaxy was an endlessly large place, and this statue shows up here, now, as they’re here?

“We need to talk to that woman again,” Cassius said, lacing his fingers between Sabine’s as he led her back towards the tent where they’d found the statue. He expertly moved through the crowd with a much quicker pace – his mind was set, now – he was in mission mode again. His hand went out, and the tent flapped open again. Cassius stepped inside, but…

Nothing. There was nothing but the fabric walls. No tables, no trinkets, no cauldron… no old lady. While there was some mild confusion at first, Cassius found himself not very surprised. For some reason, they were supposed to get this statue. Whether the woman’s intentions were malicious or not… they might never know.

A small amount of frustration tugged at his chest. This was going so well, and yet, on the second day of their vacation, this whole ancient mystery business seemed to find them again. His hand lingered by his belt once more, over the pouch that now housed the statue. He chewed his bottom lip in thought.

“Look,” he said, turning to Sabine. “Here’s what we can do. I can put this,” he patted the pouch, “on the Spectre and we leave it with the rest of the artifacts. I don’t think the entire galaxy is going to explode and the mysteries of the universe are going to go away if we take one or even two weeks off for ourselves.” He knew that neither one of them would want this to end so soon.

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine found that the two of them were usually in-sync; this time was no exception. It did certainly seem like they had been meant to find the statuette here, somehow. She nodded when Cassius mentioned the old woman, and she held tight as he laced his fingers with hers. Following along at a brisk pace, she craned her neck to see the tent. But as the flap of fabric was moved to the side...

Peering inside, they found only an empty tent.

She blinked, and eventually heaved a small sigh—without the old woman, their questions would have to go unanswered. Sabine turned as Cassius spoke, presenting a rather good option. And her worried expression soon gave way to a smile.

“You're right,” she said, feeling some tension leave her shoulders. Breathing out, she moved closer to Cassius for a moment and put her head against his shoulder as she pulled him in for a hug. And she let her mind grow calm again as she basked in the comfort of his steady presence.

“Let's get stuff for dinner and then stop by the ship,” she said, resuming her place at his side and lacing her fingers with his once more. Sabine felt a little better knowing the statuette would be safely stowed away soon, and she knew she'd feel even better after some time to recharge at their bungalow. That sonic soaking tub sounded mighty nice.

It didn't take long to browse the produce, soon they had an armful of fresh greens and a lovely little mix of vegetables to go with them. Sabine had also grabbed up a loaf of crusty bread that was still warm and figured they could crush a little garlic onto some slices. And the baker at the stall had completely sold her on some fresh fruit and yogurt parfaits that were layered in plastic containers to bring back.

Dinner would come together pretty quick, maybe they could even spend the night in and snuggle up with a good holo-film. The evening would be theirs to do whatever they wanted. It was a delightful feeling.

But, as they made for the spaceport, that nervous flutter returned to her chest.

“You know, I'll feel better knowing that... thing is tucked way. Out of sight, out of mind, right?” she asked, stealing a glance at Cassius.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

As she agreed with him and pulled him in for a hug, Cassius closed his eyes and breathed in deep, resting his face on the top of her head. This was absolutely the reason why he didn’t want to leave so early. Finally, after all this time, there was something more important to him and could pull his attention away from archaeology, from studying artifacts. It felt nice, having tunnel vision on something else for a change – tunnel vision on something that returned the favor, something that could pay attention to him as well.

They gathered the ingredients for their dinner that night, and Cassius felt a little less tense as they got the vegetables and bread. He was still conscious of the idol on his belt, but knowing that Sabine didn’t want to leave just yet, and not feeling the pressure to helped ease things. Cassius picked out a nice amount of poultry for them to use, as well as some spices and garnish. He was already thinking about how it would all come together, and his stomach growled a little.

The spaceport was on the way back, and Sabine expressed her desire to put the idol away, and just not having it around would lift their spirits. “I certainly think so,” he said, squeezing her hand a little. Why couldn’t they just be normal archaeologists studying more boring things that didn’t emanate dark energy? It was their lot in life, he supposed.

As they approached the Spectre Melody, Cassius turned to Sabine and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “You can stay here. I’ll be right back,” he said as he let go of her hand, stepping up the ramp that had just lowered. He climbed up the ladder and moved through the cockpit into the hallway. The first door on the right had been a crew cabin, but Cassius and Sabine had found themselves using it for storage of smaller artifacts, even putting in a holoprojector on the fold-down table that was usually for eating quick, private meals.

The metal drawers under the bunks had been reinforced for protection and were vacuum-sealed. Cassius found one that was empty and pulled it open. He retrieved the idol from his belt. Even touching it through the velvet pouch was disconcerting. His fingers held onto it, lingering over the open drawer. His eyes fixated on it, and his breathing quickened over so slightly. The fear began to come back – he could almost hear the same whispers he had heard on the desert planet, echoing in his mind. Dark thoughts began to creep in…

He dropped the pouch containing the statuette in the drawer and shut it, the mechanism locking and hissing closed. Sighing, Cassius stood to his full height, shaking his hands as if to force the bad vibes from him.

Stepping off the ramp, it closed and locked behind him. There was a bit more of a spring in his step, and a smile spread across his face as he looked at Sabine again. His mood had already improved – out of sight, out of mind indeed. Linking back up, he pulled her in and gave her a kiss.

“Let’s get back to the rest of that vacation, huh?” he asked, slipping his arm around her and walking out of the spaceport.

The sun set on an almost perfect day, and everything started to be cloaked in darkness. A small black starship, about the size of a light freighter, entered the atmosphere, nearly invisible against the night sky. It landed on a separate island from the resort – one uninhabited by any locals or tourists, but was large enough to hide their descent and landing. A loading ramp opened, steam hissing from vents. A group of men and women, wrapped from head to toe in black garb, stepped out. One held up a pair of electrobinoculars and looked through them, zooming in on the neighboring resort island.

Meanwhile, dinner had gone well in the bungalow. The salad was excellent – Cassius was surprised either one of them could cook, after mostly just eating pre-prepared meals on the Spectre for so long. Standing at the counter after the clean-up, he stretched his arms over his head, moving his head from side to side.

“So… we’ve gotta try out the sonic tub, right?”

Sabine Galen

 

[Sabine Galen]

Sabine had been more than happy to get back to their vacation.

She breathed a content sigh. Dinner hit the spot – a perfect meal, light and refreshing. The lush greens and crisp vegetables were a contrast to the meals they ate on the ship. Even though this had definitely been more involved than simply sticking something in to heat up, it had turned out rather well. And she made a note to try to find some simple meals they could cook on the Spectre in the future.

As she dried her hands, she glanced over to see Cassius stretching his shoulders and neck. And then he casually mentioned the sonic tub. Sabine grinned in response.

Sabine clad in her bikini—and Cassius in his trunks—they enjoyed a nice soak. The two of them discovered the wide variety of buttons available on the tub that did all sorts of things: bubbles, therapeutic jets, lights that turned the water calming shades of blues and purples, and aromatherapy, too. By the end, she felt relaxed enough to just slip into bed and drift off to pleasant dreams.

“Ah,” she said, drawing a deep breath. “That felt really nice, didn't it?”

Now dressed in a light tank top and cotton boxer-style shorts, Sabine climbed up on the bed and stretched out in the middle. She felt her body sink into the plush surface, and she closed her eyes.

“I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to getting into bed with you,” she said, grinning. And then her eyes snapped open again when she realized how that might have sounded. “You know—because it's so comfy. That's all," she added quickly, with a slight blush that was reddening fast. And then she disappeared beneath the blankets, face hidden.

Cassius Droma

 

[Cassius Droma]

Now Cassius was more convinced than ever that he was going to install a sonic soaking tub somewhere on the Spectre Melody. He was already thinking about it as the warm water soothed his muscles and put his mind at ease. Maybe in the spare room? Well… if he and Sabine were going to start sharing a room after this, maybe some custom work could be done to make the refreshers more robust. Either way, he was willing to fork up the cash for it.

Afterwards, a soft content smile was on his lips. His neck and shoulders were completely relaxed – he knew that he’d sleep well that night. Emerging from the refresher in his typical sleep wear of a short-sleeved shirt and light shorts, he answered as Sabine commented on their soak in the tub.

“Absolutely,” he said. “We’re definitely getting one on the Spectre now, no question.”

He watched with amusement as Sabine took her spot on the bed. His eyebrows nearly shot to his hairline, though, as she relayed her excitement in getting in the bed… with him. A feeling of… something akin to excitement formed in the pit of his stomach. He couldn’t help but crack a smile as she desperately tried to cover up what was perhaps some sort of psychological slip of the tongue.

“Yeah – right,” he said, chuckling softly as he approached. He had to wrench the covers from her grasp for a moment before climbing in as well, snuggling up close to her. Using the Force, he dimmed the lights in the room to almost nothing. The glass door also darkened and turned opaque – now it really was just the two of them, alone. Cupping her face in his hand, he gave her a kiss on the lips before saying, “I was looking forward to it, too.” Then, he casually laid on his back, as if he hadn’t just done something so intimate, his voice adopting the same tone, “You know – because it’s so comfortable.”

The rest of the night was spent watching a holofilm, projected from a holoprojector on the other side of the room. It was some sort of romantic comedy – Zeltrons in Love – Sabine’s choice. Cassius hadn’t really cared one way or the other, as he knew that he wouldn’t be able to stay awake no matter what film they chose.

Sabine Galen