Idris had not expected the streets to be so busy so late in the rotational cycle. Last time he'd been on Adrondonas, the street had been virtually empty at the same hour. He didn't have any trouble, despite the crowd, making his way back to the port. He was anxious to return. He did not favor crowds, and the unknown they potentially held. As well, the rendezvous had a time-limited window involved with it, but he was confident Atalanta would be more than capable to make the deadline. He hardly took any notice of the individuals of the crowd or anything that they were dressed in. His dark green and black pants didn't stand out in anyway, nor did the cloak he wore. As long as Drexel Rynn and his thugs didn't spot him, he was certain to be safe. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw the marker. He remembered the sign was only a kilometer away from the port entrance. He patted his side, feeling safer as he reassured himself again that his weapon was still in his shoulder holster. He looked over the busy sky lanes and watched as the Adrondonas' second sun descended beyond the horizon of the busy metropolis of Kandis Spaceport.
Rowen Cairn, who was also traveling within the spaceport, didn't think she'd get into trouble this soon after settling in Adrondonas. And yet here she was, plowing through the crowds of people, pushing them aside, trying to get away from the three large men behind her. Three very unhappy, angry men who wanted to grab her, beat her, and possibly a few other things that were much too unpleasant for her to think about. Well, what was she expected to do when a customer cupped her butt in a crowded restaurant? Just sit back and let him have at? She had promptly stepped back, said something mean to him, and then set his right sleeve on fire. That hadn't gone over well with several people around her. Then the screaming started, the panicking, the accusations, and now the chase. She had to get off this planet and soon. So she was headed where she knew she could get a ride - the docks. As unique as she was, Rowen Cairn didn't look any different than most people. Long brown hair, currently loose around her face, and simple clothing - black pants, and a grey button up shirt, soft slip on shoes on her feet. Panting, a sharp pain acting up on her right side, she picked up speed as well as she could. She could hear the men behind her, yelling for her to stop and let them catch her, but for some reason, she didn't feel compelled to acquiesce.
She'd hoped to find an open ship, sneak on as she had done on so many ships before, and be gone, just like that. Unfortunately, that was not in the cards today. These men were much faster than she planned, and the crowd was thinning as she neared the ships. She decided to abandon her plan of finding a ship and stowing aboard, and settle for simply finding something to help her. Seeing a man walking idly along, she made her selection and ran up to him quickly.
"I need your help," she said, but not in a begging or pleading manner, more in a confident tone that left her prey with little choice. Turning the man to face her, she hesitated as she recognized the face, recognized his eyes. How long had it been since she'd seen this face? Eyes widened, and she quickly turned to see if she caught sight of the men chasing her. "Well? Are you going to help me," she demanded, grabbing his arm, and pulling it gently.
Idris was caught off guard, and even jumped a little when she snuck up on him. His hood fell away, revealing those green eyes and chiseled face. His hair was still the short brown mess it'd been before, but that expression of panic had been unmatched up to this point. And he still wasn't very tall, short of two meters. He went to say her name, but in the moment, his brain came back with a blank. Despite this, His mouth kept moving as he tried to say or even remember her name. After a moment, seeing the look of urgency in her eyes, he realized that he didn't have very much of a choice. It was still at least five hundred meters to the port, and maybe a minute after that to his ship. It took him a moment, but once realization kicked in, he took her hand and ran. His energy surpassed her own, as he'd only been walking, and as his pace accelerated into a run. "This way!"
When he pulled his ignition pistol out of his cloak, the crowd seemed more compelled to obey. "Move! Out of the way!" More and more bystanders fled out of his path as he almost dragged her tired form to the dock entrance. He saw a small niche and pulled her into it. It was small enough not to be noticed, but large enough to accommodate both of them as he pulled her lithe form up against his body and held her tight. Her back pressed against his chest as he prevented her from moving into view. He peered out from the hiding place to see that the men would actually catch up with them long before they made it to the ship. Thankful he had found this spot, he took care to make sure he saw the men disappear back into the crowd before she and him continued on down the street.
"Idris..." She touched his arm, turning him gently. She barely remembered his name, but at least she remembered it. "Thank you, for helping me...again." She opened her mouth to add something, and then stopped. She was suddenly realizing that she still had to get on a ship. Staying here was not an option for her.
He felt terrible when she said his name, his mind still failing to supply him with one for her. His speech seemed unnerved as he went to speak, clearing his throat some way through and regaining the ability to speak more clearly. "I-It-I-of-of *ahem * no...problem, of course. Why wouldn't I help you?"
"Why wouldn't you help me? Maybe because last time you did, I vanished on you without so much as a 'see ya.'" Rowen continued walking alongside him, running her fingers through her loose hair.
He shook his head and then asked, "Well...are you alright? What happened?" He indicated her pursuers, who were now a great distance ahead of them.
Well, she wasn't going to tell him that she had lit some guy on fire, and now she was a criminal. "...Let's just say, they don't care for me much, and if I stick around here, I'm dead. So maybe you could...give me a lift? I promise to be a better guest this time." She grinned at him, hoping he bought into it. Granted, she wouldn't blame him if he turned on her. She had vanished on him years ago, never thanked him, and now was popping up again asking for more help.
He nodding slowly, not believing her about her attackers, but not pressing the issue. "We'll see." He continued walking with her, back in the direction of his ship. He'd momentarily forgotten his time constraints, in light of their fleeing, but as things began to calm down, he remembered it again in the back of his mind. His pace was evenly sped, but as they continued walking, a subtle acceleration went into his stride as he tried desperately to stay and talk with her and get back to his ship, both endeavors currently quite contradictory of each other. He wanted to stay, yes, but...he simultaneously needed to go.
"Look, it's fine if you-" she sighed, cutting herself off. "I'm Rowen, in case you'd forgotten. I was that idiot who decided to secretly hide on your ship to bum a ride, and you were the nice guy who helped me out. And now..." She immediately noticed his acceleration of speed, but she kept up with him. "...I'd love it if you could help me out a little more."
The fact that he didn't stop dead in his tracks, laugh in her face, and push her aside was a good sign he was going to agree to her coming along. Still, she kept smiling at him, just to be safe, walking quickly at his side. "I am headed anywhere that isn't here. I'm going where you're going, and at the first stop, I'll get off, and you don't have to worry about me anymore." Her head turned for a moment, eyes searching around just in case those guys were coming for her again. Focusing back on Idris, she bit down on her lower lip, studying him for a second. "Please?"
This was as close to begging as Rowen would get. Her smile grew a little, and she realized suddenly that if he didn't say yes to her, she was going to be more disappointed than she should have been. Very rarely did Rowen ever see a familiar face, and even though they hadn't known each other well, he was part of her past, and now part of her present. That didn't happen very often. People came into Rowen's life and then they went out, and never came back.
Idris nodded a little, as she spoke, but his countenance noticeably changed. Not in a way he realized, but in a way that was quite obvious to her. He wasn't sure how eager he was to have her come aboard for all of one stop and then disappear out of his life just as suddenly, though pleasantly unexpectedly, as she had re entered. "You can come along, if you like."
"I promise I'll be a good guest. I'll even do some chores for you on the ship, alright? But we have to hurry and leave now. We don't have time to just stand around."
"Time? TIME!" He groaned audibly, realizing he'd completely forgotten about the time. In the spirit of impetuousness, he said nothing, just grabbed her hand, and started running again. He'd completely neglected his deadline. He didn't like to be pressed for time or feel rushed, but the longer he was with her in the corridors of the spaceport, the less time he'd have to make the jump. He lead her along, down the passage they'd found themselves in, and made a quick turn down a different path. The first door on his left, he pushed open, and was nearly dragging her like a rag doll to the foot of his ship.
Despite being dragged, and feeling a twinge of annoyance at being dragged, Rowen went along just glad she was actually being taken. Idris called out a name, a name she might have recognized, but with so much time having passed, it was possible it would be as unfamiliar as any other name Idris might speak. "Ophelia! Start the engines and warm up the ship! And OPEN THE DOOR!"
The landing ramp slowly descended from the roof of the ship. He dragged her aboard, and she would already be able to hear the various engines and generators gearing on and switching to life. The lights in the ring corridor were dim for a moment, and then sprung to life, bathing them both in an ambient, but gentle, lighting. Once the ramp was back up again, he turned to look at her. "Ok, if you're going to come along, we're going to have to have a few grounds rules.
She nodded slowly. "Okay..."
"Alright, for now, I need to get off this rock. So, I want you to either sit in the copilot's seat, or buckle up in the galley." He pointed, indicating their locations. "Once we've left the system, and I've made the jump, we'll figure out where who is going to sleep where and find you something to change into. I don't usually have passengers on my ship, but, no offense, if you're going to be with me for three days, you get to use the refresher at least twice between now and then. That's...not negotiable."
"Rules, rules, rules, got it, check, understood. Copilot's seat it is."
He started walking, down the corridor and around to the corridor that came off the ring and into the cockpit. He sat down and strapped in, reaching up overhead and flipped a few switches, looking up at the night sky and the air traffic lanes. He looked over at the copilot's chair, and waited a moment, giving her some time to buckle in, but then lifted off, regardless of how secured she'd managed to get beforehand. He heard the roar of the sublight engines as his little cruiser analog took to the sky and broke free of orbit. "Ophelia, bring up the navicomputer, and get me Baramasta jump coordinates."
He waited until the antispace window generator had a green light, and then throttled forward. The vast window seemed to peel open for that small fraction of a second and then they were sucked in, the veridian and azure hues of antispace engulfing them. He looked down over the panel, and then at his wrist, checking to be sure his chronometer matched the ship. He sighed, and then remembered her, turning to look towards the copilot chair.
Sighing softly as soon as all seemed calm. "That...was...fun. So, Baramasta?" She turned in the co-pilot's chair to face him, arching an eyebrow slightly. "You can dump me there. I won't be offended." Arms crossed and she turned again, facing the front of the ship.
He shrugged, but not with his arms, his eye brows shifting up in a "sure, whatever" expression.
It was then that the miniature projection came to life on the control console, standing near the center. "Captain Chariton? Why...do we have a passenger...again?"
When the little projection came up, she jumped slightly, frowning down at who she could only guess was Ophelia.
The figure was about as tall as Idris' forearm. Her long brown hair fell over her shoulders and her blue eyes seemed perplexed, not angry. She was more curious than anything. The light green, uniform-style shirt and pants covered her in a very conservative style. Her black shoes matched the attire very well. And while her appearance was that of an adult, as was her even-toned voice, her personality and countenance seemed child-like more so than the mature adult she appeared designed to emulate.
"We have a passenger because..." He stopped midsentence, looking over at Rowen a moment, his eyes taking in her appearance, before he turned back to her. "Because she had nowhere else to go, obviously."
The image looked over at her, and then slowly tilted her head to the side. "You look very familiar. Has Captain Chariton had you aboard once before, Miss?"
Gathering her wits, she straightened up, unbuckling herself from the chair. "Yes, Id-Captain Chariton has taken me in before. Both times unwillingly, for the most part. He's a kind man."
Idris stood, satisfied that Ophelia's attention was directed away from him, and walked into the space that connected the cockpit to the ring corridor of his ship. He turned right and walked around to the galley. He was starving, a sensation he'd only became aware of as he'd spoken to Ophelia.
Feeling a little strange talking to the computer, she looked over at Idris, and noticed he was leaving and quickly began to follow. "It was nice to see you again, Ophelia." She called over her shoulder, before she followed Idris into the galley. "I think we should discuss sleeping arrangements. I know this isn't a very big ship, so if you just hand me a sleeping bag, blanket, anything - I'll be fine. It most likely won't be the most uncomfortable place I've slept in before." It was true. Since Rowen had become such a wanderer, she'd become no stranger to uncomfortable sleeping arrangements, but she did what she had to do to get by.
The machine in front of Idris dinged and he reached into the opening, taking a bowl from it. Steam flowed off the top as he moved over to sit at the booth-style seat that surrounded about half of the galley, a table extending around in front of it. He set it down on the surface and looked over at her. The food was a little too warm to consume just yet. He looked over and saw Ophelia sit on the edge of the table, looking over at him.
"Or I can just sleep outside..." she muttered, feeling a little ignored.
He was still contemplating how he would manage everything. He didn't feel right about making her sleep on the floor, or any other place on the ship that might be equally uncomfortable.
"Captain, what is our next mission? We haven't been to Baramasta in almost twenty-seven cycles."
Idris sighed. "Let me eat first and then we'll figure it out." He looked over at Rowen. "Are you hungry?"
Eyes went to that bowl he pulled from the dispenser. She hadn't realized she was hungry until that moment, but guilt followed her hunger. She had already sort of forced her way onto the ship. She didn't exactly feel great about eating all his food either. Sitting down at the table, she jumped when she noticed Ophelia. She was going to have to get used to that little projection popping up here and there without any warning. "Am I what," she finally said. She hadn't realized she was being addressed. Looking down at his bowl, then back up at him, she feigned a little shrug, and looked away. "Only a little. I'm sure I can hold off until morning."
He arched an eye brow at her. He left his bowl on the table and went over to the dispenser. He looked at it a long moment, then looked over at her, as if her appearance somehow was going to assist him in deciding what to prepare for her. He programmed the device and waited a few moments. He took the bowl from the machine and set it in front of her, along with a spoon. He plopped the second spoon into his own bowl and started sipping at it.
"Thank you." She responded, genuinely, as he set the bowl down in front of her. Trying not to think of the last time she had an actual warm meal, she brought the bowl towards her, stirring it with her spoon. Blowing gently to try and cool the liquid, she kept herself quiet until she had sipped. "Thank you, for taking me in again. It's not often someone will take you in twice. Especially after the first time they just sort of...vanish." She raised her eyebrows and shrugged, scooping up more soup.
Making a face more at herself than him, she leaned back in her seat, eyes moving back up to him. "What is in Baramasta?" She noted that it seemed like the captain now had two curious females aboard. Lucky him.
"There is a lot in Baramasta. That's all either of you need to know until we get there."
Idris' soup smelled obviously different from her own. He'd served her psyrian fowl soup. The broth of his meal, however, looked a lot darker, some kind of red meat she'd probably never smelled before. He ate his soup at a very slow pace, almost out of character, considering how hasty he was with everything else. He breathed in the scent a long moment. "Don't worry, you're not inconveniencing me. We're onboard, and I've no problem taking you along. Put it out of your mind." He grinned at her and winked before going back to his soup.
Glad to see his smile, it immediately reassured her somehow. Returning his smile with one of her own, she took another bite of soup, her mood almost instantaneously improving. "This time, Idris...I will say goodbye, and give you a proper thank you, before I leave. Last time...I was younger, and scared, but...not anymore." Nodding a little bit, she fell silent, not wanting to pester him anymore while they ate. As her soup cooled, it was easier to eat it, and soon she was almost at the bottom of her bowl.
He continued to eat his food, and despite his slow pace, he managed to finish it before she finished hers. He got up and went over to the dispenser. He dropped the bowl into the discard bin and realized he had forgotten to empty it while he was on the surface, but he was confident it would not be an issue. "Why, if you do not mind me asking, were the nice men chasing you?"
Rowen shook her head, finishing off the soup, standing up to place it in the bin just as Idris had done. "Well first of all - they weren't nice men. One of them grabbed me when I was trying to clear off their table. Grabbed me...not so politely. When I..." Lit him on fire? No. There was no way she was telling Idris about her powers. If she did, the next thing she knew was she'd be thrown off the ship, or tied up as a captive and turned in once they reached their destination. "...put him in his place - he got mad. So he and his buddy chased me. End of story." Not really, but she figured Idris would take it. Clearing her throat gently she sat back down across from Idris, running her fingers gently though her long brown hair.
He laughed a little. "Ah, I see. Yeah, I can't say I like it when strange, ugly men try to grab me either."
"Happen often?" She laughed at that, although she wasn't entirely sure if it had or not. Still she chuckled, and leaned against the table, placing her chin onto of her folded hands.
He grinned at her without answering. "It's ok, I doubt they'll even remember you, and I have a feeling you'll not be compelled to return to their planet anytime soon anyway." He had to admit though, having seen the size of the guys chasing her, that he couldn't deny how curious he was to know the details of how she'd gone about "putting them in their place." It was a question he decided to wait until a much later time to ask her. "Well, I am going to check the ship and make sure everything is in order. Usually, I have a moment to do a preflight checklist...but for some reason, I just didn't get around to it this time. So I guess a post-flight checklist is in order."
When he announced he'd be checking the ship, she immediately stood up, wondering if she could help. Considering she didn't know the first thing about ships, she decided maybe it was better she didn't offer up any help. "No time for preflight checklists. Gosh, I wonder whose fault that was." Shooting him a little grin she headed back towards the cockpit. "I'll just stay in the cock pit till your done - keep out of your way and everything."
He smiled and winked at her as he walked away. He'd left his cloak on the seat and she could now see what his cloak had been hiding. A large pistol was still in his holster, and his shirt was stained with green, purple, and red smudges. His pants didn't seem to have anything on them, and it seemed like Idris wasn't even aware of how filthy his shirt was. When he got to the cockpit, he stowed his pistol under the control console, the designated place for it on long flights like this. He started looking over all the indicators, and grabbed a large datapad from the left wall, reviewing each box and checking it mentally to make sure that everything was ok. He hoped that Rowen was good luck and that Atalanta would not feel compelled to break down.
Heading into the cockpit she plopped back down into the copilot's seat and remained quiet as he went about his business. She could be a good guest when she wanted to and stay quiet, and out of his way.
As he was reviewing the checklist, he wrinkled his forehead, looking from the paper up to indicator on the console and back again. He tilted his head and looked up out of the corner of his eye. "Ophelia?"
"Yes, Captain?" The image appeared on the console again. "What is it?"
He turned to looked at her. "According to your sensors, what is the temperature of the aft cargo hold?"
The image's gaze looked over at Idris and then seemed to go very far away for a moment. Then she blinked and looked at him. "It would appear there is an unusual amount of heat coming from the hold. I recommend you investigate it."
He sighed. "Well, at least the SHIP checks out...now I just have to make sure that nothing else came aboard that wasn't scheduled to. He reached under the console and retrieved his pistol. He walked out of the cockpit and down the hall.
Hearing that something strange was going on, Rowen immediately sat up, intrigued. Well she could only TRY and stay out of the way. Whether her curiosity got the best of her or not was another story. She let the two talk, but when there was talk of investigating, and Idris was leaving the cockpit, she was out of her chair immediately. "Idris?"
"Captain. I recommend you-" The miniature image lifted her hand, as if to signal him, but then her gaze looked impatient and she disappeared.
"Yes, yes, the Tiderian armor suit..." He mumbled to himself somewhere down the hall. He went over to his living quarters, opening the door. He didn't really want to take any chances. If it was something dangerous, it was better to be safe than dead. He started rifling through the closet as he looked for the compartment behind the false wall.
She followed him into his living quarters, not even realizing what room they were in till her eyes fell on the bed. Oops. Shoving her hands into her pants pockets she leaned against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. "Um...do you need any help?"
He looked over at her from his closet before looking around his room, subtly indicating more that she wouldn't want to be in his room more so than she wasn't allowed. "Well, I would let you...but I only have one...uh..." He looked at the floor, scratching the back of his head. He'd always considered his suit to be a secret, but it seemed like less and less he was able to keep secrets from her. "It wouldn't be safe for you, Rowen, and I'd feel terrible if anything happened to you."
"I can take care of myself, Idris, but..." No sense in starting up some stupid argument right now. "...if you want I'll just go back to the cockpit, sit down, and just chat with Ophelia." Part of her wanted to light HIM on fire and then say "HAH, see? I can take perfect care of myself!" But of course, she resisted that temptation and stayed quiet.
He managed to wrestle something out of his closet. It looked more like a remote. He looked behind her and pointed the device. A hidden compartment opened up behind her and he walked over to it. The various pieces of his armor were hung in a room that was covered in transparinite. He walked back into the space, which was large enough for about ten people to comfortably hide. He started to take off his shirt and looked over towards where she was standing to see if she was looking over at him.
She jumped away as he opened up that hidden compartment. Watching him, she felt her breath catch in her throat as his shirt went up an over his head. And she was definitely not moving her eyes away from his bare chest. When he looked over at her, she immediately looked down at the floor, shaking her head a little bit. "Fine. I'll go to the um...the...cockpit. And...just be careful." Arms crossed in front of her as she shifted from one foot to the other.
He smiled and rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "I'm not really that bad, Rowen, it's just...an off day for me." He stuck his tongue out at her, indicating his ragged appearance. He was very lean, but it appeared that he would be able to hold his own in a fight. One thing that might have drawn her attention was a long scare that went down across his chest from his left collar bone all the way down to his waistline. It didn't look like the cut had been very deep, just a thin line across his chest. Once his shirt was off, he waited, seeing if she had decided to stay and get a free show or if she was going to do as she had indicated and return to the cockpit. While he didn't like the idea of her and Ophelia "catching up," so to speak, he could hardly think of anything else to do.
"No, I didn't say you were bad. I...I mean, you're not bad at all. I like..." Shut up Rowen! A light blush rising to her cheeks she turned away from him and pointed at the door. "I'm going. Be careful." And out the door she went, taking a deep breath. It was just a shirtless man, she thought to herself, kicking herself a few times. No need to get so flustered. She was flustered because she had liked what she'd seen. Rolling her eyes at herself, she hurried into the cockpit and sat down in the copilot's chair. "Hi, Ophelia." she said aloud, looking around for that little projection she expected to come up. She was hoping that flustered look had been wiped off her face, and she no longer worried about anyone questioning her about it.
The projection illuminated into life on the same place on the console that it always did. "Hello, Mistress Rowen. What can I-" She stopped midsentence and titled her head. "Mistress Rowen, are you alright? You look a little flushed and your pulse seems a little elevated." She gazed on, watching her with her normal curiosity.
Back in his room, Idris unbuckled his leggings and let them fall to the floor. He still wore a pair of black shorts that covered up his thighs and the important, more valuable parts of his body. He reached over and grabbed the bottom half of the armor and started to pull them on before putting on the top. He listened as the pieces clicked together, letting him know they were secure. He grabbed the boots and put them on and then took the helmet and placed it over his head. He reached both hands into either glove and waited for his heads-up display to light up. His movement was not impeded as he walked away from the room and down the hall. He felt the door to the hold and his heads-up reading indicating that is was a little warm. He entered in the access code and let the antechamber door open in front of him. He pulled it closed behind him as he stepped in and locked it.
Rowen put on a little smile and quickly nodded. "Of course, Ophelia, I'm fine. I'm just here to...relax and chat with you while I wait for Idris. As you know, he went to check on that heat." Taking a deep breath, she let it out gently, hoping that Ophelia noticed she was calming down and wouldn't press on the subject any further. It'd be strange to explain to a computer why she was so flustered to begin with.
The image nodded. "Yes, of course. I'm sure it's nothing, Mistress. These things happen occasionally, but I think it's been a very long time since a pyre fiend managed to stow away in the cargo hold. And the MMK II tactical suit is more than sufficient for exterminating things like that, or whatever it is that is in there."
"Pyre fiend? What exactly is that, Ophelia?"
The ship bucked then, suddenly and almost on cue, and an alarm in the cockpit started to go off. "There's been a significant power surge in the navigational systems. We're dropping out of antispace, Mistress. I recommend you restrain yourself." Suddenly, the green and purple hues faded away as gaping nothing of real space opened up in front of them. The force of the reversion was enough to knock Rowen forward, but the crash webbing engaged just fast enough to restrain her from splitting open her head on the console. A mysterious, loud clank was heard down from the corridor.
The ship jerked, making every muscle in Rowen's body to tense up. "Dropping?" That didn't sound good. Panic bubbled up in her throat as she was thrown forward in her seat. She watched her nose come perilously close to the console before the restraints leapt out to prevent her injury. "I'm going to go check on that." Whether Ophelia liked it or not. Rowen moved to undo the restraints and was standing up again, one hand on the wall next to her - just in case the ship jerked again. Frowning, moving carefully but at a brisk pace, Rowen made her way down the hall towards the strange clanking noise. The cargo hold's antechamber door had broken loose, and red and yellow hues were casting from it into the corridor. There was an intense heat coming away from the hold. She could also hear an abundant amount of swearing coming for the hold as well.
Idris struggled to extinguish the flames in the compartment while simultaneously firing at the creature. He was trying to kill it, but it seemed like the beast was completely impervious to the energy of his weapon.
Eyes widened, and she felt not only her muscles tense, but she felt her whole body just freeze. Well it wasn't a normal thing to see what she could only assume was a pyre fiend. Maybe for Idris it was, but unfortunately, he didn't look like he was doing so well. Even though it should have, the heat coming from the hold didn't bother her, and she stepped closer to it. "Do you have another extinguisher?" She yelled at Idris, looking around to see if she could answer the question herself.
He felt his heart jump up into his throat and then fall into his stomach. "Rowen! Get...out of here!" He watched as the animal's attention shifted to Rowen, and he leapt onto it, trying to tackle it. His suit's armor could take the heat, but even with the weather controls inside the suit, plus the entire compartment moving up to temperatures around the boiling mark, he was worried that it might overload the internal systems. The beast snarled and its long tail whipped around, slicing through the air and struck Idris like a bat, knocking him into the wall. "Ugh, xfing Drondos! I'm going to blast their shop to the ground!" The beast made a move to go after Rowen again, and Idris leapt for the beast, but fell short, merely catching hold of the creature's tail as it went to escape into the antechamber. "Get out of here! And close that door!"
She wasn't going anywhere. Rowen stood her ground, dug her heels in, and looked around for an extinguisher. At least, until she heard the beast coming at her for a second time. Unfortunately, Idris was unable to hinder the beast as he had a moment ago. Frowning, she turned to face it, debating what to do; defend herself the best way she knew how, or run? Shaking her head, she watched at Idris continued to struggle and made her choice. Turning, she shut the door, but she was still inside. Moving towards the creature as fast as possible, she brought a foot up to kick it right in the face. Its heat and the flames in the room didn't bother her one bit. She knew she was giving herself away right now, but Idris was in trouble, and if she didn't help, he could very well die.
As the beast started to run, Idris was suddenly on his feet. Another audible clanking noise was heard from the boots as they fastened themselves magnetically to the floor. Idris managed to maintain a grip on the tail, stopping the beast just before it leapt at her. The kick did little more than anger the beast. Idris tried to pull the creature back to him, by the tail, but the beast lunged and tried to pull Idris forward, but he didn't move, his footing remaining sturdy as the beast used him as an anchor, swinging around by the tail and colliding with him. Idris buckled, falling on his back, and a moment later, his feet left the ground. "Get the...in..." his words were few and far between with the struggling of the creature as it tried vicious to tear into the suit, barely managing to scrape the metal as the teeth gnawed at the head plate. "On the wall, get the gelidy gun!"
Taking a deep breath, she turned around as Idris began to attempt to order her. Gun? Gun! Whirling around, she lunged for it, grabbing it off the wall quickly. Now she just had to figure out how to use it. Fingers fumbled with a few buttons, until she heard it come to life. Aiming, or at least she hoped she was aiming, she pulled the trigger, taking a step back as the gun's force shoved her back a little.
Idris watched as she finally fired the weapon, the large blast of white energy emitting from the gun. The energy seemed to seep into the beast's flesh, or metal, or whatever it was made of, and slow it down. Despite being somewhat incapacitated, the beast was still trying to kill him. The temperature in the room seemed to drop about a hundred degrees in only a matter of moments. The crackling noise, like ice melting...or unmelting, in this case, seemed to fill the room as white crystals leached from the creature and into the floor, completely restraining the creature.
The black, red, yellow, and orange colors seemed to fade into white and blue as the creature seemed enervated and slowly stopped moving at all. Despite everything, it still appeared to be breathing. Idris groaned as he tried to move, but unfortunately, he'd been mounted to the floor by the spreading ice. He stopped struggling, and sighed. He looked over at her, and while his entire face was hidden from her, his words seemed sincere. "Thank you, Rowen." He sighed again and lied still. He was trying to decide how to defrost the ice around his armor without waking up the creature.
Breathing heavily now, she sighed with relief when she realized the beast was incapacitated, and Idris was safe. Gently she set the gun down to the side, walking over to the two on the ground. "No problem. I'm just glad you're alright." She was speaking sincerely as well, but it showed in her face, and especially in her eyes. Realizing he was very much stuck, frozen to the ground, she knelt beside him, studying the predicament he was in. Eyes went up to his face then back down. At least if he freaked out, he wouldn't kill her, considering he owed her his life. Her hands reached out, a few inches above his armor. Little orange and red flames seemed to conjure from her palms and slowly the ice on his armor began to melt away. It only took a few minutes for her to completely defrost his armor, while leaving the beast in his frozen state. Quietly, Rowen stood up, looking down at her hands and watched as the flames flickered away. Backing away from Idris, she looked down at him, and smiled sheepishly. "I think you can get up now."
He groaned as he wriggled out from underneath the creature. He moved over to the gun, without a word, and flipped a few switches on the device. He then pointed the device at the beast again and sprayed a thick layer of something over the creature. The white film spread over the beast and began to solidify. After a moment, the creature was covered in a transparent block. He then turned to her, and shivered. She could see that his boots were leaving footprints. It was then that she'd noticed she could see her breath when she spoke and the room was getting colder. "Hurry, get out of here!" He ran out of the hold into the antechamber and then proceeded into the ring corridor.
While extreme heat did not bother her, she noticed how cold it was getting and needed no additional coaxing to rush out of the compartment after him.
He waited for her to get to his side and then, with a great deal of maneuvering, pushed the door closed. He sighed and leaned against the door. "I hate pyre fiends...especially the big ones." He lamented. Then he tilted his head, pulling his helmet off as he looked at her, pointing a finger. He thinned his eyes at her. "You've got some explaining to do, young lady." He looked very confrontational for a moment, but then he winced and walked away from her. "As soon as I get out of this suit..."
Well there weren't any curses, no charging at her with a weapon. Always a good sign. And then he just winced and walked away. "Um...alright. I'll just...wait here?"
As he walked into his room, he then went into the armor hold. "Ophelia." He didn't yell, he barely said her name loud enough for someone in his room to hear.
"Yes, Captain?"
"It would have been nice if you'd notified me of our new passengers unique disposition to controlling THE ELEMENTS!" He'd started calm, but then found himself unable to contain his emotions.
"You never asked if she was. I wasn't aware that you'd wanted me to disclose everything about your mystery passengers."
Idris rolled his eyes as he stripped down to his shorts again. He hung the pieces in their designated racks and then walked into his room, the small image fading out of the hold and appearing on his dresser, following after him. "Well, from now on, if we get any more visitors, in private, notify me of any anomalies or any uniquenesses our company might possess, ok?" He started to get dressed again, this time in clean clothes. He needed to use the refresher, but he felt the matter at hand was more urgent. He walked back to where he'd left her, but discovered she'd wandered into the galley. This time, Idris was wearing a clean, white tunic and tan leggings that were cut just below his knees. He was barefoot also. He stormed into the galley and looked around for her. When he saw her, he tilted his head. He seemed a little worked up. "You're a Gifted?"
Rowen lifted her head as he entered, and as he began to speak to her, she winced as if he had slapped her. "Gifted? That's not what they call me, Idris."
He didn't mean to say the word like he was swearing, just with emphasis. His tone didn't tell any emotions he had about the conclusion other than surprise. "I just really wish you would have told me." He paused, and then looked at her, disappointed, but more with himself than with her. "Is...is that the real reason why those guys were chasing you?"
She wanted to shrink away from him, to vanish entirely, but all she could do was sit there and let him ramble on and on, letting him have his say. "Told you? And what? Risked my safety? My own life? Yeah that's why the guys were chasing me, that's why I've had to be on the run since I was a kid, because the minute someone finds out what I am, they call me ugly names, and try to KILL me. Do you understand that?"
He frowned and sighed, running his hands through his hair rather raggedly. He sat down in a chair across from her and reached out and took her hands. When he grabbed her hands, she yanked away immediately, standing up, taking several steps away from the table. "Rowen, I'm not like other mercenaries. I'm not going to jettison you into space or sell you to a trader. I realize that I hadn't really earned your trust, but if you're going to stay here for two days, I'd appreciate it-" He stopped, chewing on his lip a moment and then started speaking again. "I'd be grateful, " he corrected, "if you told me anything else out of the ordinary that you feel otherwise apprehensive about telling me, alright?" His shoulders slumped and he stared at her with a look of disappointment, as if her secrecy had left him feeling rejected or rebuffed. "You don't...have to if you don't want to, but I promise...you don't have to worry about me, ok?"
"Mercenary? Right, because trusting a mercenary is a great idea for me. Do you know how many times I've been chased, shot at, tied up, or beaten?" Realizing her voice was getting a little too high, and she was panicking a little too much, she took a breath, placing a palm to her heart. "I'm sorry, Idris...I just..." The hand covering her heart moved up to her eyes and she took a breath. "There's nothing else. Basically, what you saw, alright? Thank you for not killing me, I appreciate it. Don't worry, I'll be gone in two days." That look of disappointment was killing her, and she looked away, feeling tears well up in her eyes, and she couldn't fully understand why. "I'm sorry you got stuck with the likes of me."
He sighed and rolled his eyes, and looked up at her. "Well, I can sugar coat it all I want, but in the end, yes, I am a mercenary. A hand for hire, a man in it for the money, because money holds this ship together and puts matter into my dispenser." He frowned as he watched her. Did she really think so little of him, or was it humans, in general, that she had a hard time with? "What good would it do me, to end your life? You just saved mine. What kind of grateful would that be if I turned around and shot you afterward." He sighed and shut his eyes, feeling his heart aching from the sight of her panicked expression. "I have no intention of doing any harm to you, or calling you any foul names. I would just like it if you were honest with me, ok? And I am not stuck with you. I assure you, it is a pleasure to have you around."
Not in a long time had Rowen received this sort of kindness from anyone. The last one was the woman, Maggie, who had taken her in when she was a child. But that was so long ago, and long before her abilities had surfaced. Her eyes lowered to the hand stretched out for her, and she took a step forward. He was accepting her - for what she was, for what she could do. That had never happened. Eyes went down to that hand again, but she didn't want to take it. Her heart swelled up and a gratitude, like none she had ever felt, burst inside of her. Moving around the table, she walked right up to him and threw her arms around him, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, Idris. You don't understand what you've done for me. Thank you so much." Holding him she suddenly realized how nice it felt to be holding someone. And then she recognized how odd it might be for her to hold him for so long. "Sorry." She whispered quickly and let him go, taking a step back. "I got a tad carried away. Sorry."
He felt his body get chills as she wrapped her arms around him, and then felt the goose bumps on his skin as she kissed him. He had to fight the urge to turn and kiss her, and his will won out as she let go and stepped away. He smiled at her, trying to look calm even though his heart was ready to leap out of his chest. "I...sure...it's...*ahem* of course, Rowen. It's me. You're...welcome."
She'd be one big, fat liar if she said she didn't get those same chills from holding him. She hadn't been trying to initiate anything but holding him had felt so nice, so comfortable.
He smiled, and as she backed away far enough, he stood smiled at her. He then pulled himself away from her gaze and presence and forced himself over to the dispenser. He hit a few buttons on the machine and pulled away a glass of hot tea which he drank eagerly and without any regard to its temperature. He kicked it back down his throat in one motion, like he was taking a shot. He discarded the cup into the bin and looked over at her. "So...uh...I guess..." He tried to speak, but his mouth appeared to be malfunctioning. "Sleeping arrangements... You...um...I guess...you can..." He scanned the galley as if the answer, or even the rest of his sentence, was hidden in writing on some object in the room.
Snapping herself out of it she watched him as he drank down the hot tea, wincing as he threw back the hot liquid. Smiling faintly, she cleared her throat a little bit, trying to hide the blush that had appeared along her cheeks. How could she have forgotten? The giant monster in the room. Shoving her hands into her pockets, she looked around also, and then quickly focused back on him. "I'll sleep in here. Or the cockpit. Ophelia can keep me company. Just hand me a blanket and pillow and I'm set. Really, you've already done enough for me, I'm not depriving you of your bed or anything." Nodding as if she had settled the matter, she looked up and around. "Ophelia and I can have a girl's night, isn't that right, Ophelia?" Laughing a little bit, she focused on Idris and shrugged. "Please don't worry about me. You deserve a good night's rest in your own bed." She stepped up to approach him and reached out to gingerly touch his shoulder. Realizing she got those same chills and lowered her hand quickly.
He jolted visibly when she touched him. He stole one long gaze over her many appealing features and shook his head. "No...it's...ok. You can have the bed tonight. I...'m...not even tired." He smiled weakly, almost in a way that approached convincing her. "I...we'll...take turns, ok? I'll sleep in the cockpit tonight and...you...can have the bed. But only on the condition that I get the refresher first, of course."
"Idris..." She began to fight him, and then stopped, realizing the two of them were just going to argue back and forth about the stupid bed unless one of them conceded. "Fine, we'll take turns. I'll take the bed tonight, and tomorrow you'll take it. And...you get the refresher first. That's only fair...Captain." Smiling warmly at him, she studied his face quietly for a second, and then shook her head. "You look tired, by the way. And you know...if the cockpit ever gets uncomfortable. You...can just come into the bed." Realizing how that sounded she felt her cheeks definitely blush now. "And wake me up, of course. And I'll gladly move to the cockpit. Not that we have to share the bed because...I'm sure you'd hate that. Um...yeah. Right."
Oh right, of course, how awful it would be to have to share a bed with someone like her. He could feel the dread building in him already...or was that repressed excitement? "R-right, I mean...if...if I...can't sleep...then..." He swallowed. "I...need to use the refresher." He walked out of the galley and went to his room. He took deep breaths and stood there a moment before he started undressing. In his fit, he hadn't realized that the door was still open. He got down to his shorts again and walked into the chamber. The entrance to the refresher was almost exactly aligned with the entrance to his bedroom, but still offset just enough that you couldn't see directly into it from the corridor. He started running the water as he looked around.
His exit was so sudden she could only stare after him in mild shock. "Right." She muttered, wanting to kick herself. There she went scaring him off. Grumbling under her breath, she headed for the bedroom after him, shaking her head, and mumbling under her breath. Walking into the corridor, she could hear the sound of running water. He'd already ducked into the refresher, go figure. He needed away from her as fast as possible. Sighing heavily, she waited until she figured he was immersed in the refresher, door shut and all, to head towards the bedroom.
The refresher, unlike the rest of his ship, was actually rather elegant. It had ivory tile from top to bottom and a mirror that covered the wall space above the vanity sinks. There were two, each large enough for a five year-old human to bath in, it appeared, or more likely, for Idris to immerse his entire limb in the sink. The shower was made out of transparinite with durasteel handles. The water came from above, from the left and right, and even from a faucet in the back. The commode was on the right immediately near the entrance, but a wooden door separated the small room from the rest of the bathroom. On the face of the door was a full length mirror, tall enough for even an Ulratian to see head to toe. The vanity was on the right and the shower was to the left, with the towel rack immediately in front shower door. The shower and vanity both were off to the side, out of the immediate line of sight of the bedroom, but once inside, there was nothing in the shower to deter a person from seeing every detail that was within as the transparinite had a moisture-resistant coating that made water stick to it almost as well as it might stick to oil, a measure intended to help deter soap scum and stains. He took his time, trying to get all of the pollution out of his hair from the last planet he'd visited and used the time to hopefully distract himself from his surprise guest. Not that he found her unappealing or even bothersome, he just desperately needed some time away from how the girl made him feel.
Sighing heavily, Rowen ran her fingers through her hair, suddenly thinking that she might steal a quick shower before bed. Hopefully, Idris took a quick shower. She wanted to get the grime from the day's work out of her hair, off her body, and just curl up in bed and pass out. She decided she could just nose around the bedroom, while he was indisposed, and try to find an extra pair of clothes for bed. Her mind was elsewhere, completely, as she entered the bedroom, absently shutting the door behind her. She was searching through the things scattered around while her eyes looked over at the refresher. A little scream flew out of her mouth and she leapt over to the door, promptly shutting it.
Thankfully, for the both of them, Idris was in his own little world, having finally distracted himself enough to begin going over the assignment details in his head, planning out the rest of his trip. His eyes were also closed, so he both neglected to see her and was unable to hear her. If she didn't say anything, he'd never know.
Blushing furiously, she retreated to the bed, a part of the bedroom where she couldn't see him, and he couldn't see her. "Oh...great." She groaned softly, and just sat there staring at the floor, waiting for him to be done. Her entire body temperature had sky rocketed upon seeing him, and right now she wanted him to get out of the shower so she could take a cold one.
He finished washing his face, rinsing the soap out of his eyes, and then started scrubbing his limbs. One thing Idris prided himself on was cleanliness. After every single assignment, time allowing, he deep cleaned every inch of his body. He looked over at the door and wondered a moment. He didn't remember if he had left it open or...left it shut. He felt very self conscious and started to speed up his normal routine, managing to get clean and have the water off in only another five minutes, instead of fifteen. He grabbed a towel and wrapped himself in it.
Hearing the water shut off, she remained where she was, looking up only when she heard him walk to the entrance of the chamber. At least he was covered. Staring right back at him, she held up her hand for him to stop when he moved to shut the door. "It's a little...late...for that...I'm afraid. Um..." Not wanting to explain her comment, she stood up and pointed to the refresher behind him. "Mind if I..." It was hard to even make eye contact with him after what she'd seen of him and what sort of thoughts were going through her head now. "...get in now? Um...Also...I...need extra clothes. If possible." She took a few steps towards him, then stopped and finally raised her eyes to his. Finally she managed to squeak out. "Sorry?"
He'd stopped when she protested and looked at her. He arched and eyebrow, perplexed by her confession, then he realized and his eyes went wide with understanding. "Oh...I see. Or...you...saw...rather, I suppose." He nodded at her, but in his mind he couldn't help but think...clothes? What would a girl like her want clothes for...surely she'd never wa- He shook his head and took in a long breath, and then sighed. "Right, clothes, of course. I...just, when you get out, call for Ophelia. She can help you with that. And, well, you are more than welcome to use the refresher." He moved out of the way to let her into the chamber.
"I...uh..." Best not to speak in that moment. Stepping forward into the refresher and moved to shut the door. Suddenly, whether it be those hormones, or something like that, her playfulness kicked in. Gently she shut the door, only half way though. If he wanted to, he'd be able to get a good look at her...
"You know, I didn't stare at you that long. Little unfair." She grinned at him, shaking her head. His bed was, indeed, very comfortable. And, she now realized, so was Idris. "Are you feeling better? I mean after the fight with the...uh...Pyre...thing. I don't remember what Ophelia called it."
"I do feel better. Thank you." As he turned to face her. "And, in my defense, pyre fiends usually aren't so giddy in transit. A lot of things got neglected on the way out of our last stop. And usually, when I go in there, they're not waiting for their next meal and already on the attack."
"Well I'm just glad you weren't hurt." She spoke with sincerity. "Um. So..." Looking at him, she smiled a little bit. "How long did it take you to plan this little...encounter?"
He smiled at her, his hand moving up to her cheek. "You're very pretty...but, I promise you, this was not premeditated. I didn't want to kiss you until we were hidden away in that niche on the street." He chuckled weakly. But then he noticed how her smile faded and he wrinkled his forehead. "What's wrong?"
She could hear how intense the concern was in his voice. "Uh...nothing. I..." And all the warmth she had been feeling slipped away from her. She had trusted him so fast and let him in so quickly. Never had she trusted anyone this way. Maybe it was because he knew her secret. She had become an idiot over a man just because he knew her secret and didn't try to kill her because of it. Uncertainty about her own actions and feelings, as well as his, bubbled up and she suddenly felt very vulnerable. "I'm just tired all of a sudden. Um...let me go ask Ophelia about some clothes." She climbed out of the bed, heading for the refresher.
His eyes went wide as he felt the temperature drop in the room, quite suddenly, as he watched her almost run away from him. He opened his mouth to speak, but he felt suddenly overcome by a stormy onslaught of emotions. Rejection was the one that boiled to the surface, but he managed to fight it down and reign himself in. He looked at her as she walked away. It took him some time, but after a few moments of trying, he finally managed to reply. "Uh...clothes...right...you...yes, ask her, she can help you...find some." He looked around the floor and put on the first assortment of clothing he could find. Then he left her. He felt his mind and body urging him to flee. He went into corridor and walked to the cockpit, feeling his breathing getting out of control as he got away from her, panic setting in as wave of emotions started to boil over. He sat in the chair and tried to become completely immersed in the intricate working of Atalanta's systems.
She felt shaky and cold all over. She just didn't know how to deal with what had just happened, and then there he went right out the door. Plopping down on the edge of the bed, she wrapped her arms around herself. "Ophelia?" She called out trying to keep her voice from quivering. "Could you help me?" Her mind was spinning now and she felt sick to her stomach. What if he didn't care for her like she was starting to think she cared for him? What if this was just a quick romp? He had left so fast, dismissed her so quickly when she had backed away - maybe that was all it was. Hurt built up inside of her, and she shook her head, lying back on the bed. She trusted him so much, and that was absolutely terrifying.
He looked over the systems, checking and double checking, and double-double checking. He sighed and shut his eyes. "Ophelia?" He waited a moment, and then looked around. The short projection came to life on his console. "Ophelia, if you could, I...need you to help...our guest." He waited for her to acknowledge. She nodded briefly and then disappeared. He sat there, thinking about everything, and about Rowen. He wanted to be with her, to kiss her again, but he felt so uncertain, so he maintained his distance.
The image appeared on the dresser within arm's length. "Mistress Cairn, Captain Chariton asked that I..." There was a short pause and then the projection turned around. "I'll see if I can find something for you to wear..."
"Yes...please. Just to last me until we dock. Then I'll be out of your hair, and no more trouble to either of you." Feeling sick again, she kept her head down, and her eyes on the floor. She was reverting back to who she was years ago, scared, unsure, distrustful of anyone, even herself.
"I am afraid I don't have any clothes for you in any of the closets, Mistress, but we can find you something to wear until I can have some rendered from the extra material in the dispenser unit."
Rowen looked at her, perplexed. Then she heard Idris' from the quarter's entrance. "Don't worry, they won't be edible. They both just use the same matter streams." Idris held up a hand and motioned for Ophelia to go wait in the galley, pointing into the corridor a quick second, before moving to Rowen's side. He sat down next to her, and looked at her. He reached out his hand and slowly turned her to face him. "Hey, what's going on?" He looked irritated, but he was more concerned than anything. "Are you alright?"
"I'm...fine, I'm just stupid." She answered softly, shaking her head a few times, as she pulled away from him, even though she wanted to simply just collapse into him. "I...realize that this is my fault. I should have thought it all out, because I..." She swallowed hard, still unable to look at him. "...I trust you. And I never thought that maybe this, what we did, was the sort of thing that happens when you only have three days." She sighed. She wasn't making any sense and she knew it. "You're taking care of me, and I trust you, and you trust me." Tears slowly streamed down her face as she spoke.
"Hey, hey, calm down." He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to him. He even went as far as to pull her into his lap . He let her face find his chest as he embraced her. A rule he'd learned, what felt like eons ago, when was anyone, girls especially, started to speak in ways that made little to no sense...and increased in their nonsensicalness...usually it indicated they were in the middle of losing it, or had already lost it. He spoke softly into her ear as he held her. "Rowen...it's ok. You're safe. You're safe, ok? I am not going to hurt you, and you're not alone. Please...just tell me what's wrong?" He felt awful. He just wanted to fix this, whatever it was.
"I am calm." Rowen whispered - lying of course, glad to feel him pressed against her again. It put her more at ease than just sitting there had done. Taking a deep breath, she sat up only when she felt calm enough to look him in the eyes, when she felt like she had gained control back. "Idris, I just...I trusted you. And I still do, a lot more than I've trusted anyone in a long time. And...I rushed into...things...with you. I never thought that maybe you didn't...trust me or...feel..." Now she was digging herself into yet another hole. "I understand men pretty well, Idris. I've worked around them enough. I understand if this was just a...three day thing. And I take full responsibility for all of this, for not thinking anything out."
Now he was even more confused. He decided she needed to be interrupted, and before she could say another word, he pressed a finger to her lips. "Rowen, I'm sorry. I should have realized that maybe you didn't want...all...of..." his voice started to trail off as he got more and more flustered. "I'll stay away from you...if you'd prefer. And you're wrong...I really...I really did...want it...this...you...and I do trust you." He wasn't sure whether to feel guilty or offended by the rest of her conclusion. "And...I'm not like other men you may have worked with..." He exhaled slowly, only now having realized that he'd been holding his breath. He kissed her on the cheek and turned like he was going to move away.
The kiss on her cheek did her in, and she stood up very quickly. "Idris, wait." Rubbing the back of her neck, she looked up at him smiling very faintly. "I don't want you to stay away from me, that's the thing. And...I...I wanted to, I just didn't know if...I was worried about trusting too quickly, jumping into things. I didn't want to be your fling, I wanted to be something..." More, she finished in her head. "I thought I...I'm talking myself in a circle." She studied his face for a moment, offering him another small smile. "Can we go into the kitchen, make some tea, and then...just relax?"
He smiled at her affectionately. "Ok. We'll find you something to wear first so you don't have to go around clinging to your towel." He turned and, almost on cue, the familiar image was standing there in front of him on the edge of the dresser.
"As I told Mistress Cairn, Captain, we have nothing for her to wear."
"So no girl clothes board? Then this means Captain doesn't entertain female visitors very often, or they just don't hang around?" Granted, she was genuinely curious, but she wouldn't penalize him for anything.
Idris' eyes nearly popped out of his head as he turned to Ophelia.
She started to explain, "Well, Captain Chariton has-"
Idris shook his head. "Uh uh, don't answer that!" He turned back to Rowen, red-faced, and smiled angelically. "It's...not...important. No women stay aboard Atalanta for more than-" he shut his mouth before he could finish the phrase. "For, very long, I mean...so." his mouth continued to move, but he didn't say anything.
Rowen couldn't help but grin, stifling a loud laugh as he shushed Ophelia. "For very long, huh? Don't worry, Idris, I don't stick around very long either unless I'm given good reason."
"Don't worry, we'll...get you...something." He smiled a little more uneasily and found a shirt for her to wear. He handed it to her. He continued to search through the clothes, but he didn't feel comfortable giving her anything he could find. He looked over at Ophelia. "How long...did you say it would take you?"
"For her measurements, I can make her some leggings and a tunic in about thirty minutes." Idris seemed to think about this, contemplating and weighing out if this was fast enough. He got distracted from his current task of finding her some clothes.
Shrugging she pointed to the door. "How about you allow the girls some privacy so she can take my measurements, and get started on my clothing? You can go make us some tea. Go, go..." Walking over to him she ushered him out, fully planning on having a little girl talk with Ophelia. The computer liked her, she figured, and they were both...feminine. So, they had a natural bond. That was the way the universe worked.
Idris was opened neither to catering to her while they had "girl talk," nor was he comfortable with her rummaging through his room. He started to protest, and was a little thankful when Ophelia seemed to be giving him an out.
"I've already collected your measurements, Mistress Rowen, and I've already started making the clothes."
"There, see, she's already started-"
"-But I do think we should allow Mistress Rowen some privacy, as that is what my programming tells me would be appropriate."
Idris gaped at her a long moment, then pointed at her. "Traitor!"
"Traitor? Nonsense, Idris, stop being so paranoid. Go make the tea, I'll be out soon. Go, go..." She hurried him out the door, and as soon as he was out, she let it slide shut behind her, smiling almost triumphantly. "Thank you very much, Ophelia. So what do you think about us having a little 'girl talk'? I'm sure Idris gets a little boring sometimes. And I, for one, like you quite a bit."
As the door slid shut in front of a still fuming Idris, she could hear what now sounded like mumbling coming through the door about "I made you," and "all your fault," though it wasn't entirely clear who he was addressing. Then he walked away and went into the kitchen.
The image watched as the door slid shut and then looked over to Rowen again. "You are...welcome? I am sorry if Captain Chariton feels as though my honesty has betrayed him. It is appropriate for you to have a modicum of privacy when you are dressed...or rather not dressed, as such. However, I am not sure I understand what you mean about 'girl talk.' Is this another language, some kind of gibberish? I am afraid I am not familiar with any language like that." The image looked genuinely confused, but curious. "As far as the captain getting boring, that does not really happen. I do not get bored. And from what I have heard of it, I should be grateful."
"No, no girl talk is...uh...never mind, too difficult. I guess I just want to ask a few questions, if you don't mind. Would you mind possibly explaining to me a little more about those girls Idris brings aboard? No need for extreme detail just...an overview." Smiling sweetly at the hologram, she sat down on Idris' bed pulling the blanket around her for added modesty. Even though Ophelia was a computer, she still felt like she should keep as covered up as possible. "Oh and by the way, Ophelia, thank you for helping with my clothing situation." Nodding she laid back on the bed, curling up under the warm blanket.
Ophelia still didn't seem very sure. "Are you sure you cannot just ask the captain these things you want to know?" The idea of secrets was not a concept that she had begun to grasp. To her second statement, she nodded. "Of course, Mistress Rowen. It is of little effort for me to procure you some clothing." She paused for a moment, considering. "I...suppose if you feel it would be alright with Captain Chariton for me to disclose some details as far as some of the passengers we have had aboard in the past...it is probable that he would not have any issues with me telling you, since it already took place, but I am not permitted to give out any details about our next assignment, though I will confess, I would not currently have any information to provide you, were you to ask."
"No, no, Ophelia, I would not ask about your upcoming assignment. Just...about past passengers is all. Aside from me of course, and as you know - I did not stay very long. And I'm sure Captain Chariton wouldn't mind." Well that was a lie, but if it would get some answers out of Ophelia, then she'd lie away. "And if he says anything, he can talk to me about it, don't worry Ophelia. So..." She waited patiently from the bed, closing her eyes for a moment, glad to finally feel warm and comfortable again.
"Well, Mistress, if memory serves, Captain Chariton has only had a few passengers aboard, other than you. The last one was a woman from Janx City, in the Kollarin System. Before that, Captain Chariton had only three other passengers. Two little girls, from an escape pod out near the rim. There was a firefight and the captain felt compelled to use the tractor beam to bring them in. He rescued them from the pod, and then sent it back out into space. We barely managed to get away intact. We dropped them off on a planet in the Aneway System. Before that there was you. And before you there was another Gifted. Her name was Ariadne. Though I am afraid she didn't stay very long either, because shortly after she came on board, she passed away."
"Another Gifted? Passed away?" She had been expecting gossip of sorts, but that didn't seem to be the case here. Frowning, she sat up, looking at Ophelia's little projection. "Ophelia, how did Ariadne pass away? Do you know?" For some reason Rowen had a worried feeling in her gut and she didn't know why. Perhaps she just felt a kinship with other Gifteds, although they all seemed to stay completely out of each other's ways and never find one another. Calming herself down, she took a deep breath, staring at Ophelia, practically on the edge of the bed waiting for a response.
The small image shook its head. "I do not know. She had sustained a fair amount of injuries when Captain Chariton rushed her on board. We did everything we could to save her, but I am afraid her injuries were too advanced for my mediocre level of programming. Captain Chariton never told me what happened to her. Though, I did not ever bother to ask. It was very sad though, and I know the captain was unwilling to disclose any details." The image's expression looked melancholy as she stared at Rowen.
"Oh...poor thing. Both of them." She was silent for several long moments, lost in the thought of losing one of her own. Granted, she had never known another Gifted, it still meant something to her. Sighing softly, she finally spoke up again, looking at Ophelia. "One more question, Ophelia. After I left...the Captain. Was he...sad at all? I...I've always felt guilty leaving him like I did...and I just wondered how my departure affected him." That, and she was still unsure if her affections, that had begun when she first stowed away on the ship, were matched by his own blossoming affections.
"Captain Chariton was devastated when you went missing. He had to abort his assignment and he searched Geleria for twenty-three rotational cycles. I think the only reason he stopped is because we no longer had any credits to pay for Atalanta's docking space. He took an SI assignment after that and we did not visit another planet for almost two solar cycles." The machine paused a moment, regarding her. "Why do you ask, Mistress?"
Rowen stared at Ophelia, not sure she believed what the little computer was saying. He looked that long for her? And she had been so ungrateful, she had just...vanished. Guilt washed over her and she feigned a small smile. "I uh...curiosity is all, Ophelia. And um...that's all. What is the status on the clothes?" She stood up keeping the blanket and towel pulled tightly around her.
"Your clothes are almost finished. I am afraid I was only able to get enough materials for black. I hope it is a color you like. How do you want the pieces cut? And, I forgot to ask: How...many pieces...or what pieces, I suppose I mean, do you want?" The little image seemed very unsure of herself. It was obviously not something she did very often, making women's clothes from scratch.
"Black is perfect Ophelia, I'm just grateful you're doing this for me. Um...pieces? Just what you can put together. A shirt, and pants. Or at the very least a dress? I'm sure it will look wonderful." She smiled warmly at Ophelia, wishing she could reach out and pat the computer, but unfortunately she'd just be poking at a projection. Walking into the refresher, she looked over herself, brushing her hair out again, which was a little messier than she had realized. She blushed a little and hurriedly fixed it.
"I have already made a pair of warm, black pants. And a long-sleeved shirt. But, do you want...anything to wear underneath? I did not notice if you had anything in that nature on when you came on board. My sensors are still a little limited, but if you want them, I can probably render a few of those as well. The dress can be constructed, as well." The image followed her, walking across the dresser, appearing at the bed, and then in front of her on the bathroom vanity. "I would imagine a girl with your measurements would look perfectly appealing in whatever we can have rendered for you, of course."
"Undergarments. Right...um...yes, I need those. Silly of me. Undergarments are top priority, Ophelia, the dress can be made with what is left over, if anything." Smiling at the image, she paused when the computer gave her a compliment. "Thank you Ophelia that's so sweet. You know, I like you very much. I think you and I will work on perfecting 'girl talk' and then when Idris isn't paying attention, we'll gossip, and chat." Then suddenly she realized she was only scheduled to be here for three days. Looking down she cleared her throat gently and chuckled.
The image nodded at her, then paused. "Sweet? I am afraid I do not know what you mean. My projection does not have a taste...or smell, for that matter, but I will get to work on the rest of your clothes. You need not worry, we have enough material for me to render enough clothes to last your at least seven rotational cycles. However, I am afraid Captain Chariton will not have as much tea or coffee in the dispenser for use until we reach our next assignment." Though puzzled by the term "gossip," the image didn't say anything about it, just watching her brush her hair in front of the mirror, waiting for instructions.
"Um...well...sweet...never mind. We'll perfect that also. I just mean, thank you very, very much." Smiling faintly, she turned to look at Ophelia and nodded a couple of times. "No need to make enough clothes for that many days. Just three days worth of clothing, alright?" Finally done fidgeting with her hair, she returned to the bedroom and looked at Ophelia. "So...where should I collect my clothing Ophelia?"
"The clothing you had rendered will be on the shelf in the armor chamber. But, you will have to speak to Captain Chariton as I am unable to grant you access to it. Also, I will make sure to have the rest of your clothes made before you and the captain wake up tomorrow."
"Thank you again, Ophelia. I will go talk with him now." Dropping the blanket, leaving only the towel around her body, she walked towards the kitchen, pausing in the doorway. Twenty-three rotational cycles. Realizing that she was going to get teary eyed thinking about it, she gently cleared her throat. "I need um...access to the armor chamber. Ophelia has put my clothing there. If you don't mind..." She bit down on her lower lip waiting for him to respond.
When the door to the bedroom slid open, Ophelia disappeared. The image was waiting for her on the part of the table nearest the entryway. "Shhh, Captain Chariton is asleep. It would be impolite to wake him." The image made a show of putting a finger over its lips. And there was Idris, reclined in a chair, his eyes shut, his quiet breathing slow and steady. He was rolled to a side, his hands in his lap. They had been in his room for almost thirty minutes, and with nothing better to do, he'd dozed off waiting for them.
"Oh...I...Ophelia, I have to wake him up. I'll be very polite about it, alright?" Looking up at the little image, she gave her a reassuring smile and walked over to the sleeping Idris. Bending down slowly she whispered, very softly. "Idris. Idris, wake up." Reaching out she lovingly touched his cheek, hand caressing his face. Then, leaning down even further, she placed a soft kiss on his forehead. "Idris."
He started to stir, groaning a little, then he was awake, sucking in a deep breath of air, with almost a jerking motion, he came to and looked around. He seemed panicked when he woke up, but when he saw her and Ophelia in the room, it seemed to reassure him. He shut his eyes and wrinkled his forehead, rubbing his neck with his hand. "I'm sorry, I fell asleep. Did you girls find what you needed?"
"No, no need to be sorry. We girls took a while. And yes, Ophelia finished up some clothing for me, but we need access to the armor chambers." She paused a moment to study him, smiling tenderly at him, leaning forward to place a soft kiss on his lips. This kiss was unlike any other kiss she'd given him. It was tender, sweet; she took her time with it. It was filled with something much more than she expected from even herself. Backing away from him she cleared her throat gently. "So...armor chamber?"
He was still a little groggy, so when she kissed him, he wasn't quite awake enough to properly reciprocate, but he did have the presence of mind to pucker his lips and meet the kiss after her lips were pressed against him. He moaned weakly, his eyes closing as he kissed her back. He reached up to touch her cheek...just as she pulled away. It took him a moment to snap out of it. "Armor...armor chamber. Right!" He slowly stood, and had to catch himself on the table as he nearly collapsed. He caught himself and then stood on his own two feet, looking out of the corners of his eyes as if no one had seen. He walked slowly into his room and started looking through the mess on the floor for the remote. "Since there isn't really a closet of any kind, other than this one, I guess it would make sense that Ophelia would put your clothes in the chamber. I guess that means you'll just have to bug me every time you need something to wear." He made a face, flaring his nostrils a little.
"Need any help?" She asked from the doorway, a hand on her hip.
"Yes." He pointed at the wall where the armor chamber was. "Get to work on breaking that open. I'll see if I can't just find the remote." He couldn't even remember where it had ended up. He couldn't remember where he had placed it when he'd open the chamber last. He looked over at her then, taking a second look. "And...make sure you hang that up in the refresher beforehand."
"You can't find the remote? How did you lose it?" Grinning at him, she shook her head walking over to the armor chamber door. "And what do you mean hang it up before hand? I think you bumped your head somewhere, Idris, you're making no sense." Laughing softly, she stepped back from the door, studying it quietly as she held up one of her hands, as several bright yellow flames erupted from her palm. She looked from her palm to the door.
"I just think that if you take off the towel that-" Then he looked over, and saw he throwing flames at the wall. He leapt to his feet and rushed over, taking her arm by the wrist and pulling it away. Rowen giving him an odd look, as he dashed at her, and then grabbed at her hand, the one with FIRE in it.
"Idris!" She yelled and the flames vanished. She stared at him, half laughing half in shock. "I was not going to burn your door down. I was just kidding. You really think I can burn through this door?" He sighed. Well, at least now he was awake. Rolling her eyes she stepped back, gasping as her towel fell right to the floor. "Alright, this is why I want clothes." She grumbled her bending down, scooped up the towel and wrapped it around her tightly shooting Idris a dirty little look.
"Ophelia, where is the key pad remote?"
"I believe it is in the armor chamber, where you left it, Captain."
"Ah, well, can you open the keypad for me?"
"But Captain, you said-"
"OPEN...the keypad, Ophelia. If I enter the code incorrectly, you can still vaporize me, ok?"
The key pad popped open and he entered the access code. The door swung open into the chamber. The armor was still there, right where he'd hung it...and the remote was on the shelf where he'd placed it. He beckoned Rowen inside, and as she'd walk in, she'd see the shelf come out of the wall, a pair of pants and a shirt folded neatly on the shelf, as well as top and bottom underwear to go with it. From the opposite side, a smaller shelf extended out, a long, elegant, black dress tumbling down and then suspending off a hanger.
Idris looked at it, and the way it was cut, and gaped. He looked at Rowen. "W-wow. What...what exactly did you girls talk about, anyway?"
Rowen shot Idris a look and tossed her still slightly damp hair over her shoulder, grabbing her things, and then turned around just as the dress appeared. She choked slightly, taking a step back to admire it. "Uh...not about this. Um...Ophelia - this dress is absolutely beautiful but...it's a bit elegant for running around a ship, don't you think?" Walking up to the dress, she reached out and ran her fingers down the front of it, studying the cut. Rowen was never much of a dress sort of woman, preferring pants and a shirt to skirts and dresses any day. But she couldn't help but love this dress.
Ophelia seemed confused by her comment. "I am afraid I do not understand, Mistress. What level of elegance do you feel would be appropriate for your stay on board?"
Idris turned to her, then back at Rowen, and then at the dress again. "No, no it's fine, Ophelia, it's ok. I'm sure-certain...that, we can find...a use...for...it." He cleared his throat, visibly trying to gather his wits.
Unable to keep from smirking at Idris' reaction to the dress, she patted him gently on the back. "Easy, Captain, you're not the one who'll be wearing that at some point. I'm going to go get dressed in the bedroom. Thank you very much, Ophelia, for the clothes." Walking out of the armor chamber, she headed towards the bedroom where she dropped the towel.
"How does it look? Fit alright?" She asked, doing a little twirl in front of him so he could see her from all angles. "It feels good anyway. Ophelia is an excellent tailor."
He followed her out of the chamber, making sure to have the little remote in his hand as he entered the bedroom. "I think you look beautiful." He smiled, no ridicule or malice in his expression, just pure sincerity. "And I am sure that they are very comfortable. I've never put on a pair of clothes, rendered by her, that were anything but wonderful."
He walked over to Rowen and kissed her cheek, lingering near her side a long moment. "Are you hungry?"
It wasn't hard to pick up the difference in his attitude and voice, and she gave him a funny look as he walked over, placing that lingering kiss on her cheek. "Hungry? No, but I'd love a cup of tea." Running her fingers absently through her hair, she gave him another one of her looks. "You alright, Idris?" She asked gently, taking one of his hands in hers, and gave it a loving little squeeze. Despite the worry, and pain she'd been feeling earlier, she seemed much more at ease with herself. That, and she was honestly not trying to think about her limited time on his ship. He expected her to be gone in three days, as did she. If she wanted to stay, she wasn't sure when or how she'd bring it up.
He winked at her in response to her question, and walked away, his hand lingering with her own for as long as it could until his arm could no longer reach her. He walked into the galley and started work on the dispenser, having it make something much more soothing. He drank some, closing his eyes as he tasted it, and then made a cup for her as well, walking back to his quarters with a saucer in one hand and his mug in the other. He had made his decision. He'd wait for her to start sipping, and softly remark. "You know...Baramasta...isn't a very friendly planet...nor is it very safe for outsiders..."
When he returned to the bedroom, she had a brush in her hand that she had managed to find, and her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she had replaced the blanket she had used earlier and set it back down on the bed neatly. A smile crossed her face when he brought in the mug and saucer. "Thank you." Standing, she walked over to him and took mug, sipping carefully as she sat back down. "I'm not familiar with Baramasta, but I'll take your word for it. You have to go there on business, I presume, Idris, so there's no really changing your destination now."
His gaze drifted as she sipped, his mouth opening a little, a pause before he started speaking. "Yes..." he said slowly, "however, my next destination...is not yet known. I was planning on traveling to Eradin, to have maintenance done on Atalanta...and do a few upgrades. That journey, alone, all the way from Baramasta, would take a week. I just wanted to discuss any...alternatives...any places that you might know better, that you..." his voice drifted off and he puckered his lips, and then pursed them, clearing his throat. "I mean, perhaps there is somewhere you'd rather...go to...maybe..." He swirled his cup in his hand for a long moment, looking down into it as if it might display a secret for him, before he looked back at her. He didn't taste it again in the moments before her response.
"Eradin, oh..." Falling silent, Rowen also looked down into her mug, making a slight face as she processed what he was asking her. They were discussing her departure, so...he wanted her gone. Which was understandable, she thought. It was a small ship. He had work to do. Feeling only a little down, she shrugged her shoulders and answered quickly. He could visit Eradin; it wouldn't be as if he'd be gone forever. "Eradin is nice. Nobody knows me there...I could...find a job there and settle in, I suppose. I don't have a preference, wherever we dock is...fine." She didn't look up at him again, simply tapped the side of her mug, taking a couple of small sips.
He opened his mouth to speak, and closed it, repeating the process about three times before he finally managed to speak. "Well...I mean...we don't...have to. But, I know...you probably don't want to be antispace bound for longer than you need to...so..." He went to speak, and then sighed. "I am sure we can...figure it out. I just...I don't want to hold you here...I mean...against your will. If you want to leave sooner...then...I am sure...we can figure something out. But if you...don't mind...staying...for the whole trip...well..." his voice trailed off and he let out a long breath. "I mean...it's...your decision, Rowen." He smiled weakly at her, his shoulders slumping a little.
Rowen wasn't sure how to respond to anything he'd just said, or if she could decode any of it either. Sitting there, dumbfounded, she sipped her tea, blaming it on her own fatigue for not being able to fully comprehend his words. Did he want her to stay? Was he just being helpful? Shaking her head, she continued to sip her tea, watching him, as he walked out to put away his mug.
He shut his eyes for a long moment. He was so tired, and now to make it worse, he felt completely helpless. He sighed, and after minutes, though it felt like an hour, of just standing in the galley, he walked to the dispenser, dropping his cup into the discard bin. He was going to avoid being asleep as long as he could while she was awake. He walked back to the living quarters and slowly moved to her, sitting on the bed next to her.
When he came back, she had her mug set to the side, and she was sitting quietly there, staring at a spot on the floor. His presence brought her back to reality, and she smiled at him.
"Idris?" Reaching over she placed a hand on his knee, and leaned against him gently. Ophelia's words echoed through her mind all of a sudden - twenty seven rotational cycles. The words warmed her. "Could you and I sleep? Here? I'm...very tired and I'm guessing you might be too."
She lifted her head to look at him, smiling as she waited for his answer to her invitation.
It was his turn to be dumbfounded. He opened his mouth and closed it and then opened it again. "I, uh...suuure." He looked very confused, and then looked towards the galley and then back at her, his expression a little suspicious. He began to doubt his concept of time and how loudly he might have been thinking in the kitchen. He started to rehash details and try to remember what she'd looked like when he walked away, and if when he got back, if there had been a noticeable different that might have indicated more time, than he comprehended, had actually passed...or if he'd fallen asleep in the kitchen again. He was very tired, but if she was really going to leave, he felt a very intense emptiness at having to sleep in his bed...as opposed to...
"I mean...are...are you sure? I mean, if you're really that tired then, I mean..." He started to get diarrhea of the mouth, his lips and mouth moving, without saying anything, or anything intelligible at least.
She couldn't help it, she chuckled softly, nodding her head as he asked if she was sure, and all while he blubbered on she continued to nod. Finally when words were no longer even bothering to come out of his mouth, she leaned forward and pressed her lips gently against his, making sure to completely cease his movement. Kissing him softly, for a good, long moment, before she eventually pulled away. "Come on. Let's go to bed, Idris."
When he felt her lips press against his own, he shut his eyes, reciprocating the affection as he immediately fell silent. As she pulled away, and tugged at him, he submitted and rolled into bed with her. He wrapped his arms around her, wanting to have her as close as possible. He tried to stay awake, listening to her breathe and feeling her warmth so close to him, but he barely lasted a minute before his body relaxed and his soft, even breathing could be heard.
He was a very good sleeper, and to his knowledge, he'd never snored or spoken in his sleep, two facts that made him all the more receptive to sleeping so close to her. Rowen curled into him, enjoying the warmth that emanated off of him. She was glad he said nothing, because she didn't want to do any talking in that moment. All she wanted to do was soak up the feeling of being held by someone, instead of have them just walk right out the door. To actually trust the person next to you because they knew you. As her thoughts became more and more sparse, she found herself finally relaxing completely and sinking into an extremely peaceful slumber. Lucky for her she didn't snore or speak in her sleep either.
Ophelia had never been programmed to alert Idris or wake him in any instance, save that of an emergency. One thing Idris hated about himself was how easily, frequently, and over-sufficiently he slept. He would easily sleep for twelve hours if not roused, especially after having been so...exhausted. He'd remain there, not moving, his arms holding her tight, but the dreams would return, dreams that hadn't haunted him in a very long time. Was it Rowen's presence that reminded him so intensely of Aria...or was it the revelation that Rowen was a Gifted that made him so apprehensive and worried for her?
Idris' expression would communicate nothing as his sleeping remained quiet. It was rare Rowen slept in, often awake at the first sign of light in the sky. But here, where she was so comfortable, she slept for a long while. When she finally did stir, she felt intensely groggy as if she'd slept through an entire day. Murmuring something inaudible, she rolled over to face Idris. A small smile immediately appeared on her lips as she reached up, and gently caressed his face. "Good morning." She whispered, not sure if he'd wake up to her whisper. Leaning forward, she placed a soft kiss on his forehead, and then laid back on the bed, beginning to stretch out her body. Even if Idris did sleep, she knew her way around the ship for the most part by now. She could clean up, and help herself to breakfast.
He heard her voice...somewhere, but his head only turned a little and the most inaudible grunting noise was made. He didn't stir anymore than that, just lying very still. He made almost no other sounds, and unless she woke him, she would end up fending for herself, at least until Ophelia found her.
Chuckling at his grunting noise, she sat up, sighing softly. Biting her lower lip, she studied his sleeping face, not sure if he wanted to be woken up. "Idris," she said again, this time a little louder, and reached over to give him a very gently shake of his body. Not too rough, she didn't want to go and throw him out of his own bed, poor guy.
He didn't respond to her voice this time, but as she shook him, he sucked in a sudden gust of air, groaning a little as he stirred. His eyes opened, very slowly and he looked over at her. He smiled at her as he realized who he was looking at, his eyes barely open. "Hi..." his eyes shut for a long moment before opening again. He looked groggy and still very tired. He was barely even awake as he went to reach up, his hand blindly searching for her. When he found her, he pulled her back in bed and wrap his arms around her.
"Hi back." She whispered softly, chuckling as she felt him pull her back down and had his arms wrap around her. Allowing him to pull, she laid back down on the bed, scooting to him, this time facing him. Ready to get up? We've been sleeping a while. Breakfast?" He grunted at her first response. Laughing again, she reached up to run a hand down the side of his face. For a fleeting moment, she thought what it would be like to have every morning be like this, to wake up beside Idris, try to shake him awake. And then it was gone. She dismissed it as a groggy thought, since she, herself, wasn't very awake at that moment. "Come on." She leaned forward kissing him very quickly. He moaned softly at her next suggestion, his eyes closed. He was drifting again.
Then Ophelia appeared on the bed a good distance away. "If you are going to wake him, you will need a lot more effort than that. Anytime I have had to wake him, like say for an emergency, I've almost had to roll the ship and disable gravity just to get him awake." The image smiled at her. "Push him out of bed...I am sure he'll come to if you do that." It winked at her and disappeared.
She jumped at the sound of Ophelia's voice, and turned to look at the little projection, nodding. "Thank you, Ophelia." Turning to look back at Idris, she sighed a little bit, then shrugged helplessly. "I tried to get you up easier. Sorry." And with that, she reached out, placed her hands against Idris' chest, and shoved hard, sending him right off the bed. She sat up as soon as she heard him THUD to the ground.
He groaned, much louder this time, and looked over towards the bed his eyes opening as he groaned again in pain. The floor of his bedroom was not a forgiving surface. He slowly got to his hands and knees and then stood, wincing as he looked down at her. He had a look of annoyance on his face as he grumbled at her, rubbing his head.
Rowen held up her hands as if in surrender, giving him a "oops" look. Scooting back a little on the bed, she studied him for a second noted there was no blood and finally piped up. "For the record - Ophelia told me to do it. I was trying to go the gentle shakes, and kisses route, but you just weren't getting it. So..." She smacked her lips together as she stood up in front of him, not at all deterred by his annoyed expression. "Breakfast?"
Idris reached up and pulled her off the bed. He cushioned her fall with the strength of his arms. He looked at her, still a little dazed, his finger running over her face, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. He smiled at her as he gazed at her for a very long moment and then kissed her.
She laughed a little, yelping as she lost her place on the bed and felt his form beneath her. But when he kissed her, it made her stop, and she pushed her face back against his own. She felt his arms moved around her and felt her hand move to his face. When the kissing stopped, they both lingered and looked at each other. "You know...I'm not leaving soon." She teased gently, picking her head back up to look at him. "...We'll do this plenty more."
He looked at her, biting his lip. "Does...that mean you'll stay then? Have I changed your mind?" He trembled a little, his head rested on the metal surface of his floor. His eyes looked at her, full of hope and optimism as he watched for her response and reactions. "Hm?"
"Changed...my mind? I..." Then realization hit her and she couldn't help but begin to laugh. "I thought you didn't want me to stay...that...you brought up my preferences on planets as a hint to...leave. I never thought you wanted me to stick around, Idris."
Slowly, his teeth released their ferocious hold on his lower lip, and his mouth opened into a horrified gape. He started to visibly tremble, and he went to speak, but he got something caught in his throat. When his eyes begin to water, he took in a quick, sharp breath, and blew it out even faster. He turns away from her, still pretending as though she didn't just get a front row seat of the catastrophic destruction of what little composure he'd managed to maintain around her. He shook his head slowly, looking at the floor. His voice is barely audible when he speaks. "I...no...I didn't..." He falls silent, his eyes shut for a long moment.
He feels the overwhelming force of the emotions, the memories and flash backs of the last time she was on his ship. He had never told Ophelia what really happened...why he had picked up and left at the end of their stay. He felt the memory boiling up to the surface to haunt him. He didn't turn to face her when he finally spoke again, his voice cracking. "I'd...rather...you stayed..."
"Idris?" Frowning immediately, her laughter and smile completely demolished at the sound of his pain in his voice. "Idris...I..." But she couldn't speak; she needed to see his face. As he turned around, her heart nearly broke when she saw the emotions in his eyes. And then he asked her to stay. Her heart swelled at those words, and it was her turn to begin to lose composure. No one had ever asked her to stay anywhere. It was always go, move, change places, change jobs, uproot her life...People didn't want her. And he did. "I want to stay Idris. I want to stay with you. I don't ever want to run away from you ever again. I..." She wrapped her arms tightly around him in an embrace.
He shuddered and pulled her closer. He took another long, sharp breath. She could feel the trembling calming down as he hugs her, and only a few more tears roll off his face before he pulls away from her a little. "I don't want you to go. I want you to stay here...I promise, I'll keep you safe. Just please...don't leave me...not again."
"No, I'm not going anywhere. Not for anything. Idris...Ophelia told me about...about after I left. You looked for me. I didn't think you would. I was only on your ship for a couple of weeks, I didn't think..." Taking a deep breath, she reached up to take his face tenderly in her hands. "I didn't understand that you cared, or that anyone could care about me. I'm so sorry I left like I did. I'm so sorry."
He shut his eyes when she brought it up, slowly shaking his head as he starts to tremble again. "No...no...you're safe...it's ok. I won't let..." He turns away from her again and shuts his eyes tight. His back and body trembling as he shakes his head. His head faces the floor as the tears roll down his face, muted sobs barely audible as his composure finally breaks down completely.
"Idris..." She took his face in her hands, trying to get him to look at her, not caring if he was crying. Her arms wrapped around him and she held him there firmly, placing soft kisses on his cheeks. "Idris...I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere. Alright? Please...don't cry. Oh..." She held him tighter, not wanting to let him go until she was sure he was alright.
As he felt her wrap her arms around him, he slowly calmed down. He sighed, the trembling subsiding. He sniffled. He looked at her, and felt compelled to tell her, to explain, but he held his tongue. He closed his eyes again and nodded slowly. "I'm...sorry. I...I don't know...what came over me." He tried to smile, but it wasn't very convincing. He shut his eyes again and sighed, feeling as though he could breathe normally and that he had stopped trembling.
"It's okay Idris. I'm here, I'm going to take care of you, too. Alright?" Smiling warmly at him, she reached up to wipe his cheeks dry.
He smiles at her but shakes his head. "That won't be necessary, I promise."
"Now, now, Idris, since I'm sticking around we're going to have to share. That means you get to take care of me and I get to take care of you! How about a hot meal? Then we'll curl right back up in bed and be completely lazy. To be honest my legs...are a little weak still." Chuckling she gave him a playful nudge trying to boost his spirits.
Her words brought a smile to his face as he listened to her. He leaned up and kissed her forehead. "Thank you, Rowen. I...needed that."
Rowen smiled brightly at him, touching his face lovingly. "And I don't think I'll ever get tired of you. Even if I did tired of you, I can gossip with Ophelia. She's a wonderful gossiper."
He rolled his eyes at her and shook his head, sighing. But their moment was cut short.
"Captain!" The image came to life, standing next to them on the floor. She was standing over him a little.
"Ophelia?" He turned on her, glaring at the image. He said her name like he was swearing.
"Sorry, Captain, but, there is a message for you from Secondary Initiative on the console! They say it is urgent!"
Idris paled. He turned back to Rowen, his eyes closed. He did not look pleased. He grunted, exhaling, and leaned up to kiss her on the forehead again. "Listen...I'm really sorry...but, I...have to take this, I'm afraid." He smiled weakly and then frowned, his shoulders sagging. "I promise though...I'll join you in just a moment, ok?" He was not very happy about leaving her, but he was thankful that they were not in the middle of a conversation, but more towards the end. He grudgingly walked away from her towards the cockpit.
Ophelia looked at Rowen. "I apologize, Mistress Rowen. I did not mean to interrupt yours and Captain Chariton's conversation, but I am afraid that the captain has made it very clear to me that I am not permitted to neglect messages from SI. I am sure he'll return, though, quite shortly."
Well, she had been Rowen's favorite right until that moment, nodding a bit disappointed at Idris, then watched him walk away, addressing Ophelia as she moved towards the shower. "Don't worry, Ophelia, it's perfectly alright. Thank you." Climbing to her feet, Rowen went into the galley to find some food. When she finished, she walked back to the bedroom, waiting for Idris to come back, constantly checking the doorway for any sign of Idris returning. The only thing she could hear was the uneasy silence that had fallen over the ship and the low humming of the life support systems, the thrumming of the antispace propulsion.
Ophelia appeared, and it was quickly clear that her intent was to try to distract Rowen and prevent her from both realizing that Idris had been absent for so long and attempt to deter her from obtaining a spontaneous motivation to investigate his whereabouts. "Do you need any more clothes, Mistress, or something to eat or drink? There is still a lot of material left in the dispenser and I am sure we can render something special for you." She smiled pleasantly, almost too pleasantly, as the image looked over at her from the dresser.
Very disappointed that Idris was not back. She barely gave Ophelia a second glance. "No, no, Ophelia, I'm fine." Strange, where had Idris run off to? Surely his call wouldn't have lasted this long? "Ophelia, is Idris still speaking with...whoever was trying to reach him?" Whether or not Ophelia answered, Rowen was already walking towards the door. She wasn't worried, just curious about what happened to the man who had promised to return.
"I...am not sure that I know what you are talking about, Mistress, but if you are looking for Captain Chariton, I am sure I can locate him for you and notify him of your desire to have his presence..." Her voice trailed off, as she walked away.
A door, which had not been there before, had shut off the passage from the ring corridor to the cockpit. Behind it, occasionally, she would be able to hear a little bit of Idris' voice, but the overall conversation was inaudible from behind the durasteel door. He was obviously still talking to someone. "No, no need to tell him. I can tell him myself, Ophelia. I..." She stopped when she almost smacked right into this new door. Frowning, she reached up to lightly tap it, and then paused to listen to the voices. "Ophelia...what's going on?" She asked, as soon as she walked back into the bedroom. Seating herself on the edge of the bed, she looked towards the computer's little hologram, not amused by what was going on, her mood slowly, but surely, souring. Running a hand down her face she sighed heavily as she impatiently awaited an answer.
The image shook its head. "I am afraid I am not sure what you mean, Mistress. Everything is operating perfectly within normal parameters. I am sure whatever you need, however, that I can be of assistance." The image smiled, politely and sincerely now.
"Ophelia, for what I need right now, you definitely cannot be of any assistance."
The sound of the door opening, with somewhat of a metal-scratching-metal noise, followed by footsteps, could be heard from the ring corridor. Sighing heavily, she laid back on the bed, curled up by the time Idris returned to the room. Idris looked...different somehow, in a way that wasn't necessarily apparent or immediately perceivable, but something was definitely different. Despite himself, he smiled. He held up his hands and his expression became overwhelmed with remorse and submission. "I'm so sorry, Rowen. I...it..." His mouth hung open, as he ran out of things to say. "I'm really sorry." His shoulders slumped and he frowned, his eyes pleading.
Noticing the change in him, she immediately frowned and sat up, mildly alarmed. Holding a hand up to cease his apologies, she studied him closely for a moment. "What's wrong? What was that call about? Idris...what happened?" She didn't stand, not yet. She was beginning to feel uneasy, not sure what had happened from the time he had left her until now. .
His expression changed, and he looked very calm, confident even. His expression was the perfect neutral and his eyes looked...happy? He moved to sit on her bed, and then his smile grew in confidence. He shook his head. "It's nothing, Sweetie. I just got a call. I..." He stopped and cleared his throat. "How are you?" He smiled at her.
Ophelia piped in, the image speaking from the dresser opposite the bed. "Captain, I'm afraid she does not believe you, not in the slightest. Her complexion and surface temperature readings indicate that she has no intention of believing your cover story any longer."
Looking away just as Ophelia spoke, she arched an eyebrow. Ophelia was back in her good graces, and Idris was certainly not. Looking over at the projection she smiled a bit. "Thank you, Ophelia, for being honest." Turning back to Idris, she remained completely silent as he sent Ophelia off, and then began to explain himself.
Idris shut his eyes, his expression filling with irritation and annoyance. "Thank you, Ophelia. Why don't you go check and make sure that the antispace communications board is inactive since you don't have anything else better to do." His eyes remained shut, and he opened his eyes and looked at her, his expression sad. It didn't appear that he was sad she'd seen through him or even that she didn't want him to know. He looked sad that now that she had seen through him, he had no choice but to tell her. "I received a transmission...from...a faction that calls themselves Secondary Initiate." He stopped, wanting to gauge her reactions to the statement, hoping to read any sense of understanding in her eyes.
She didn't understand. Frowning, she shook her head a little bit. She knew this wasn't good news. The sadness in his eyes explained that all. "So? Secondary Initiate, who are they?"
"Secondary Initiative, or SI as they are often referred to, are a splinter faction that I did a few jobs for after..." his mouth moved to open, and whatever he was going to say, disappeared. "After...it...well, it was a long time ago." He smiled weakly. "Anyway, I've done a few...things...for them, here and there." He smiled again, just as weak as before."And...the...communication...took longer...than I had anticipated." Another weak smile.
"That doesn't mean anything to me. So they called you, what did they want from you? Why do you have that look on your face?" There was more to this story that she hadn't gotten yet, and it was making her annoyed. Feeling as if she were itching she stood up, remaining in front of him, but now she was looking down at him, impatience flashing across her eyes.
"They had a task for me, and an update. And what look?" He looked up at her.
"That sad look. Guilty also, and a little bit of...I don't know, something else that is not anywhere near happy."
"I'm sorry, SI isn't fun. I wanted to avoid involving you or even depriving you of your ignorance. The last thing I'd ever want is for you to show up on their radar. They love Gifteds, and they recruit them quite actively. Some get the fun stick - they get jobs, money, assignments...and...some get the short stick. They get recruited into programs that are less considerate to the...candidate." He frowned and shut his eyes, his gaze falling toward the ground. He looked back up at her after a short moment. "What else...do you want to know?" He looked defeated, though it was clear that if she had any questions, this was the perfect opportunity to ask them.
Listening as he explained about the Gifted, she shook her head and took a step back. "You locked me out. You were trying to shut me out. Which is...fine, I suppose. I'm just...I'm just...no one here. But still...they wouldn't know I was a Gifted. No one can tell. I look perfectly normal from the outside. And trust me, I don't go around lighting people on fire. I...don't want to know anything else. It's obvious you don't want to tell me anything. So I'll spare you." Turning, she headed for the door, rubbing the back of her neck.
He looked hurt and helpless. As she went for the door, he stopped her. He got in her way, holding up his hands in surrender. "No, wait. Just..." He exhaled, his eyes closed. He looked at her, his eyes a little wet. He sighed roughly and breathed out through his nose. "Ok, look...just...sit down...please? I'll just..." his gaze moved up toward the ceiling as he briefly contemplated his actions before he looked at her again. "Just sit down...and I'll tell you everything, ok?"
Frowning at him she allowed him to lead her back to the bed, plopping down on the edge. Arms crossed, legs crossed, she had her guard up, eyes watching him closely.
He shut his eyes a long moment and his shoulders sagged. "It's not that I don't want to tell you. It's just not your burden to bear, Rowen." He opened his eyes and looked at her. "But I can't handle you...that..." his frowned deepened. "I can't bear it when you...look at me like that."
"Look at you like what?" She asked feigning a mock innocence, then immediately shrugged looking away. "Sorry. Idris...you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to." If he didn't want to let her in, that was fine, then he wouldn't be let in either. Except she had already let him in, more than she had ever let anyone in. Sighing softly, she raised her eyes back to his, trying not to show the hurt in her eyes, keeping herself in that closed off position.
"Ok...so first things first. You're...not the first Gifted that I've been..." He searched for the right word, but he looked to be at a loss. "That I've..." He exhaled through his nose. "You're not the first Gifted whose been on this ship, Rowen. There was another...about five years ago...not long before I met you for the first time." He watched her, waiting to see how this affected her.
Rowen stared at him for a moment, her muscles tightening. "That you've been with." She answered simply, and actually scooted back a little, or maybe she just seemed to shrink a little. Suddenly, she felt all her happiness just go right down some drain, felt herself possibly even pale. But she kept her jaw set, her chin held up. "Fine...go on." she said, a little colder than she had intended, and quickly cleared her throat gently.
"Aria was a member of SI and I met her out on one of the rimward planets. She hired me to pilot her somewhere. Unfortunately, she neglected to give me all the details. When we set down at the destination, she was ambushed. SI still won't tell me who it was or recognize their existence, but...after that, I was on their radar. SI kept trying to bring me into their fold. When..." He shut his eyes, a tear streaming down his face. "I tried to save her. I managed to fight off the...whatever they were. I don't even know how I survived. But I managed to get Aria back on board. We got off the surface and as soon as I could safely make the jump, we were in antispace. I tried to...to treat her, but back then, my knowledge of emergency medical first aid was very limited, and Ophelia didn't have the programming to help me assist in treating her injuries. She died about...an hour after the confrontation. I..." He sighed. Then he shook his head. "Anyway, after...she..." He paused a long moment. "They contacted me, requesting an update. When they found out what had happened, they showed up and seized Atalanta. They threw me behind bars for two days while they checked the ship. I think they simply wanted to erase her...from...everything. Anyway, after that, they reimbursed me and sent me on my way, letting me know that they would be keeping in contact with me."
He sighed again and looked at her. "About two weeks later, I found you on board my ship. You know all about that...and about everything that had happened. When you left, though, I tried to find you...but the Jastarian Militia were not a bright or helpful bunch. I tried to find you on my own...and...I..." his voice trailed off, and his gaze went to a distant place that she couldn't see. He shook his head. "When...when I couldn't find you...I..." He shook his head again. "Anyway, not long afterward, SI contacted me. They somehow knew my situation and offered to pay me in return for services. I did a few jobs for them, just a few supply runs. They paid me very well and even upgraded a lot of Atalanta's systems to standard military specifications. About...one or two solar cycles later, I was pulled from a job to do an emergency rendezvous. They wouldn't give me the details, they just had me abort and arrive at a destination. I did. I waited for about six hours before a little corvette analog dropped out of antispace and popped onto my sensors. They were being pursued." He looked at her, smiling with a great deal of malice.
"One of the details they'd neglected to notify me about. Anyway...the ship's AI hailed me and I was able to get a lock on their little ship. We docked and evacuated the passengers, miraculously, while evading the pursuing battleships. Somehow, these two little girls had found a way to escape on this little escape craft and get the attention of two Elite Class Planet Busters. We got the girls on board and ditched the analog. We outran the battleships and I made the jump to the secondary coordinates that General-" He cleared his throat. "That SI had given me. They took the little girls, who apparently were well associated with them."
He shook his head. "It scared me to death to know that this splinter faction already had these girls in their hands...so much so that they recognized each other. I didn't feel comfortable asking any questions, but I doubt I'll ever be able to get Kastia and Freya Wymond's little faces out of my mind as long as I live. I...never saw them again. Anyway, after that, I got cold feet. I ditched SI and told them never to contact me again. Ever. That was when I got my first real civilian job. It didn't pay as well, but...it paid."
He sighed, his frown returning. "Anyway, apparently an SI vessel was attacked by the...the faction that they won't tell me about. They busted the ship and took its crew prisoner. Captain Jon Wymond, and his sister, Freya Wymond, were two names listed on the ship's manifest." He shut his eyes. "Anyway, they...the call...took a little longer...because it wasn't a simple, 'No, I'm still not interested. Drop into a gas giant and die, Scum.' I...they wanted to recruit me for the offensive they're planning...but I'm...I don't want to go back. I'm not going back." He looked at her, frowning still. He shook his head closing his eyes. "I'm sorry...I just...my...my past is not...relevant to our future. I didn't want you to have to...to force you to be a part of it. I'm sorry."
Rowen was stunned into silence. It was a lot of information to take in. Staring at him, she just focused on her breathing. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in...she needed something simple to focus on. Something that would keep her head from spinning off into a whole other universe. Very slowly, Rowen stood up, arms hugging herself tightly, and she walked to the door, then turned to walk back, then back to the door, then towards the closet in the room. It was an endless, circular pace that she started up, staring at the ground. She needed to just focus, to process everything that had just been thrown at her. Finally, she disappeared into the refresher and emerged with a few tissues, walking over to him, and without a word, or a change in her stunned expression, wiped his damp face tenderly. Biting her lower lip, she continued to clean him up 'til he had a dry face, then she gently backed away, disposing of the tissues. Walking back to him, she stood in front of him, staring down at him.
"...Idris. I'm sorry. That is the only thing I can think of to say to you right now. I...you had so much pain. I...I understand, but I also understand that if you want to let someone in, you let them be part of all of you. Future, present...past." Rowen knew that was a direct contradiction for herself. She had never told him about where she came from, what her childhood had been like and yet...Shaking her head she reached out and gently caressed his face. "I have no more words, Idris. I just...I don't." And then she stepped away again beginning her pace, still not sure what to do with herself. And because it calmed her, because it helped even more than focusing on her breathing, she held up a hand as it became engulfed into calm orange flames. And she stopped walking, stared at the flames watching as they changed colors - orange, red, blue, orange...and she felt herself begin to settle down with the information.
He went to reach out for her, to take her wrist and bring her back to him as he watched her pace, panicked all the more by her unordinary reactions. When his hand went to grasp her, however, he thought better of it, because just at that moment, he watched the flames come to life in her hand. He frowned at her and exhaled through his nose. "I...I'm sorry, Rowen. I just...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..." He shook his head and stood.
"You're wrong, you know. You had to tell me. I wanted to know. But what I don't understand is...why are you sorry? What the hell is there to be sorry about?" Despite the tone of voice she should have had, or what he expected her to have, possibly angry, or frustrated - she spoke calmly. On one even level, never altering. She needed to stay calm right now, because he was hurting, he was in distress, and if they were both panicking then only bad would come of it. More tears, more things on fire.
He looked at her, his voice breaking. "BECAUSE, Rowen. I...I don't want to lose you. I don't want to wake up one day and find you...just missing. I don't want SI to find out about you, or these harvesters that they are fighting. If THEY find you..." He shook his head, running his hands over his face and sniffling. "It's only by a sheer miracle that I've evaded them. And I know they want me. Dead or alive. Because, I chose a side, and as far as they are concerned, now you have too! And it's not even our fight! You...you shouldn't..." His hands were moving like he wanted to hit something, rising and falling, balling into fists. "You should be safe, and I've jeopardized your safety. If SI can find me in antispace...then they can find me anywhere. And it's only a matter of time before..."
He exhaled a long breath and balled his hands into fists. He swung at the wall and obliterated one of the tiles. The dent in the wall was about the size of his fist, but his fist had only bounced off of it. His hand had not been as lucky, as the fingers of his left hand no longer looked very straight. The skin on his knuckles had been broken and was bleeding, but not much more than to shed a few drops on the floor. The purple and black in his hand only lasted, however, for a few moments. He gasped, and turned away from her. He cried out and swore loudly, holding his broken fist with his right hand. He shut his eyes as he turned away from her. She'd heard the crack of his bones as he'd lost the fight with the wall, but now he was trying to hide it from her. Blood continued to trail on the floor as he walked away from her. He grabbed a towel and wrapped his hand in it. He sighed and shut his eyes a long moment before he looked at her again. He was at a loss as to what to say, his face paled as he occasionally shut his eyes, holding his hand in the towel.
A little cry escaped her as soon as she watched his fist come in contact with the wall. Even though he turned away from her, tried to hide his hand she walked up to him, grabbing his shoulder to spin him till he was facing her. "Stop it." She ordered, her voice suddenly low and intense like he probably had never heard from her. "You stop it right now, Idris!" Reaching for his hand, not wearing the expression of a woman who wanted to be told "no" right now, she slowly moved the towel to the side. Eyes studied the wound and she nodded. "Lead me to your medical supplies, I can fix this. DON'T argue with me, please. I'm going to take care of you."
He shook his head, trying to pull his hand away, but she managed to get the towel. He covered his left hand with his right, trying to hide it from her. He was adamant. "No, it's ok. I just...it's...it's not that bad. I just..." He tried to turn away from her. "I don't need any medical supplies. I just need to..." He pulled his hands apart. He took his hand in his right, deftly, and she could hear the crunching as he set the bones straight. He cried out softly as he did each one. The purple had already faded to a red and his skin was no longer bleeding. The tones and colors seemed to shift about on his hands, like the silhouette of a swarm of bugs. He sighed and went to hide it from her again.
The purple faded completely and his fingers were left covered in dried blood, the red in his hands having shifted in depth and intensity, obtaining a lighter tone until it was only a pale red. He sighed and turned to her, his expression blank and his mouth wordless. "You just...Idris!...Idris? Wha...I..." Quickly, she turned his hand over, then back again as if she might find some sign, besides the dried blood, of his fist being broken. Dropping his hand, she stepped back to stare at him. "What happened? What is this?"
He felt an opportunity present himself, an opportunity to lie, but he only considered it for a moment...or maybe a few moments. He sat there a little dumbfounded, not immediately answering her question. He opened his mouth to speak, and then stopped, his gaze shifting as he avoided her. He allowed her to see his hand, letting her look at it, but he couldn't look at her as she did. He frowned. "I...it's...not anything, Rowen. It's...it's just a hand." His voice sounded sad and disappointed. He sighed and slowly walked over to the sink. He washed the dried blood from his hand and then looked at her in the reflection of the mirror.
"It's a hand that was broken, and now isn't. Explain this to me Idris!" Her voice rose a level and an angry red began to flush her cheeks. "Stop lying to me, just stop it! Just tell me the truth!" She hit the wall with the palm of her hand, not breaking anything, or really hurting herself. But it looked little more adult than stamping her foot on the ground.
He sighed. "Alright. When...when Aria...when she died, I think something happened to me. Sometimes when I get hurt, for some reason, I don't stay hurt for...as long as I should, I guess. It's not very reliable, and it only seems to happen when I get worked up, like if I am angry or upset? I can also...I can stop things?" He looked unsure, his forehead kneading. "I've been able to absorb and harness the kinetic energy of objects. I can only absorb some of it though. After it gets to a certain point, the friction...I guess, of me absorbing the energy...well, I get burned." He exhaled a long breath and shut his eyes. "There...that's everything...pretty much. You know...everything." He frowned and shrugged.
Calm was no longer something that Rowen was able to keep a handle on. As soon as that red had flushed across her cheeks, she had crossed a line, and there was no going back until it was out of her system. "Right...Because of Aria...Right." She knew, even in her angry state, it was wrong to be jealous of a dead woman, someone who seemed to mean very little to Idris, but she couldn't help it. "So I know...everything. Wonderful. I'm so glad I've found out now. Thank you so much for being so honest. I only had to beg, and scream, and practically threaten with fire!" Walking up to him, she grabbed onto his shirt sleeve which began to smoke, and suddenly, there were flames growing on the fabric.
His eyes almost popped out of his head. He scoffed and patted out the fire. To his disappointment, the fire had managed to taint his skin a nasty red color. He frowned as he watched and the skin remained the burned shade of red. "Oh right, now it doesn't work!" He groaned and scoffed, moving to the sink to run some cold water over the burn.
Turning, Rowen left him there, heading quickly towards the galley. She leaned against the wall, and slowly slid down it until she was seated on the floor. Her heart was pounding painfully hard.
Idris followed her into the galley, his arm and shirt still damp. He frowned and knelt down next to her. "Rowen...I'm sorry I lied to you. It wasn't fair for me to expect you to be open with me, and then keep my secrets.
She just stared at the floor angrily. She didn't want to look at him. Rowen was not amused, not in the slightest. She leaned against the counter, glad that it actually steadied her. "Ophelia...I am going to bed. For my own safety, and Captain Chariton's safety, I think it best we sleep in different chambers tonight. I will take the bedroom and he can have the cockpit. Could you please make sure the door is locked, please?" Holding onto the wall, so she was steady, she focused on walking towards the bedroom, pausing a moment to speak to Idris. "Goodnight, you bumbling idiot. Get some sleep. You look terrible." With that, she huffed, and headed into the bedroom, the door shutting behind her.
Idris watched her leave, looking confused. He looked over at Ophelia, who disappeared. He looked around and realized he was alone. He made his way into the ring corridor and went to his bedroom. As he approached the door, it slid open, as it was programmed to do upon his approach. He stood in the doorway, looking around. "Rowen, please. Why are you acting like this? Was I supposed to lie to you? You told me to tell you the truth, and then I do and you turn your back on me? I don't understand. I mean, you haven't exactly poured out any secrets about yourself. I still don't know anything about you."
"You told me everything, but I had to beg. You didn't WANT to tell me everything. You don't WANT to let me in. You won't WANT to trust me. Get a pattern yet? Probably not...go to sleep, okay?" She snapped viciously. "Please just...go to sleep. My head is starting to hurt and I feel sick alright."
He frowned and sighed. He walked around to the cockpit and sat in the chair, reclining as he looked out into the brilliant colors around him. He smiled and slowly shut his eyes. He didn't feel tired or sleepy, not even groggy. He thought about everything that had happened that day, and despite how it had turned out, he felt grateful that he had managed to come clean with her.
Rowen heard him leave the room, and she almost sat up and asked him not to go. To come to bed, to hold her, make her feel better. But he was gone before she could convince herself to move. Actual tears sprang up to her eyes as she sniffled feeling horrible, and self pity, and then even more self pity from being so pitiful. Standing up on very shaky legs, she went into the refresher chamber, turning on the sink and began to wash up.
"Ophelia?" his voice was solemn and defeated as he summoned her.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Be sure and take whatever necessary measures you must, to wake me, when Rowen completes her sleep cycle. And...reactivate the antispace communications board."
"Yes, Sir. Shall I notify you if General Durron hails you again?"
"Yes..."
"Very well, Sir. Sleep well." And her image faded again. Idris leaned his head back, closing his eyes as he rested in the chair.
It had taken her a while to fall asleep, but once she was in just the right position, she had passed out cold. She awoke several hours later. Slowly, she sat up, groaning softly as she sat there in the middle of the bed and all of a sudden the night before came flooding back to her. Except her anger had now dulled to a sad, aching hurt. She no longer had the urge to set anyone or anything on fire.
The crash webbing in Idris' pilot's chair wrapped around him tightly and then his chair started to spin, very fast. The door to the cockpit shut and a loud noise resonated inside of the chamber. It was a symphony of noises and they echoed around the room, certain to rouse him. It only took about fifteen seconds of this before Idris was awake. "Awake! Awake! I'm AWAKE!" The noise faded and his chair stopped spinning. Idris felt sick from the force of the spinning chair. He groaned and looked around as the cockpit door opened. He stood slowly and walked to the galley. He sighed as he strolled in. He made some caff and started sipping. He sat at the table and looked down into the cup. He yawned and looked around. "Ophelia?"
"Yes, Captain."
He took another sip and then spoke. "What is our Esti-"
"Our ETA to Baramasta is still approximately twenty-three standard hours."
He nodded slowly and finished his caff, looking around. He frowned and sighed, wondering if Rowen would turn up.
She made a half-hearted effort to run her fingers through hair so it looked nice, and then groggily left the bedroom heading into the galley. She stopped when she saw Idris sitting there. "Oh. Good morning." Well she was speaking to him, politely. "I'll just grab tea and go back to the room and stay out of your way if you want." She informed him, walking over to the dispenser and waited for her tea quietly, wincing as her head continued to ache here and there.
He looked at her, silently, and pursed his lips together. He finished his cup, and then in a show of annoyance, he shoved the glass mug with his fingers, letting the cup clink and tumble across the table. The cup accelerated and leapt from the table at her head, missing her by a few inches and then bounced harmlessly off the wall behind her. The glass didn't break, tumbling away from the wall and slowing as it dropped into the discard bin on the opposite side of the room. He smiled cordially and left the galley, walking into his room, the door closing automatically behind him.
She ducked out of the way, yelping a little at the mug flew towards her head. She sighed with relief and frowned. She probably deserved that. She moved after him and managed to shove her arm and half her body through the door opening, to prevent it from shutting. She pressed inside and the door shut behind her. "I'm...sorry. I'm sorry I behaved so...undesirably, last night. I was also hurt and angry and although some of the things I said were true, I should have behaved better. So...I'm sorry because...I care for you. And I trusted you and...I made a mistake last night. That is what I'm sorry for and I wanted you to hear me."
His expression relaxed then and he pursed his lips. "Well, it's ok. You now know almost everything. There is nothing more that you're going to find out about me, so I am not really concerned about any repeats of last night." He went to shut the door that time. He was cranky, and he didn't appear to have a lot of patience. It was possible that sleeping in his pilot's chair, alone, had allowed him to callous a little through the night. Or maybe he was just being asinine.
"Wait!" She was not getting kicked out that quickly. As he went to shut the door, she stepped into the room, shutting that door behind her. She was here to make peace, even if that meant dealing with a difficult, cranky, Idris. Whatever he wanted to be that morning. "You're right, I do know almost everything...and thank you. You said something last night...that I hadn't told you anything. And you're right...I haven't. I was yelling at you for being so difficult to get the truth to of and here I am...not telling you a thing." She reached for his hands, grabbing onto them. "But I want to tell you. I want to let you in, and trust you...but you have to let me. And you have to actually forgive me."
But before he could respond, the ship shuddered, and almost immediately, the sound of alarms filled the entire ship. The image appeared in the room, screaming at him. "CAPTAIN! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"
As the ship jarred again, he looked over and saw the image. Then he heard it. The engine alarms. He swore loudly, leaving Rowen as he ran to the cockpit.
Rowen's heart leapt into her throat. Staring at Idris, she watched him run towards the cockpit, staying where she was. Following after him would only cause more problems.
He jumped into the pilot's seat. "This isn't Baramasta! Where are we?!"
"About eight hours short of our destination, Captain. Somewhere just outside of the Klendastan System."
"What happened?!"
"We were pulled out of antispace by a gravity well."
Idris gaped, open-mouthed, and then pointed at the viewscreen. "What gravity well?! There isn't a black hole or gas giant within two light years of here!"
"Sensors read that the anomaly is coming from the cruiser just up off to port and ahead about eight hundred kilometers."
Idris groaned and looked out at the ship. "Readings?"
"It is not in any of the logs."
Idris paled. "Oh no..."
"Captain? What is it?"
"It's...it's them...the...THEM! Contact SI, hail Captain Durron!"
"We're already being hailed, Captain."
"Put it on speaker."
"Ulratian vessel Atalanta. Stand down and your ship will not be harmed. Bring your engines to a full stop and we can ensure the most conducive, painless transition. Failure to comply will result in your slow, agonizing death and the destruction of your vessel." The voice was that of a man, his tone even and calm as he made the order.
"Battleship...identify yourself! This is a civilian vessel! You've just attack a citizen of the Alliance, unprovoked I might add. It'll be a cold day in hell when I surrender and go quietly into the night, especially for strangers."
The voice changed, a feminine creature filling the cockpit with the sound of her voice. "Mmm, but we're not strangers, Captain Chariton. You know me very well, from Jastar, if memory serves. Oh, and the lovely Ophelia. Ship's computer, yes? I am confident that if you analyze the odds of your escape...and your survival, should you resist, that they are well in my favor."
The image looked at him, nodding grimly. "I am afraid she is correct, Captain."
Idris moved to boost the sublight engines to full, but when he went to throttle, a short in the console almost started a fire. "Oh no..."
"Captain, it would appear that the force of our reversion caused the sublight engines to burn out. They are now completely offline. Life support and emergency lighting are still functioning, but we've lost propulsion."
He swore again. "Where is my uplink to SI?!"
"They're jamming us, Sir. There is no way we can get a transmission out of here."
He slammed his fist onto the control panel and felt defeat washing over him, his voice solemn and submitting. "Battleship...whoever you are...we surrender. We're bringing the vessel offline and are awaiting further instructions."
"Good, Captain. See you soon..." And with that, the ship fell into silence again.
He had no idea what to do. He was most concerned with saving Rowen. He was panicking.
Rowen entered the cockpit just as she heard the word "surrender," and then the silence began. "...Idris. What's going on? And before you shoo me off, stick me in some cargo place where you think I won't be found, and I'll be 'safe,' just think about how damn stubborn I am. And that I am, in fact, a Gifted, and can help. I can fight, and if you put me somewhere, and try to hold information from me...well...just don't think about it. What's going on?" She asked her final question in a firm voice, expecting full honesty out of him right now. Determination and worry were painted across her face. "I'm going to help...in any way that I can. In a way that doesn't mean you push me to the side." Hands on her hips, she stared at him a little longer, waiting for his response. And then slowly, because she needed to, she walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder. She needed that contact with him to feel at least a little safe.
"Rowen...please, you don't understand. These people...they will not be bargained with. They don't want a fight, they want conquest. When they get on board, if they even see you, they'll take you...and they'll take your gift, too, if they can. And if they can't...they'll kill you. They want nothing with ordinary humans, they only want us. They want Gifteds. And no, you don't get that option. If I have to beat you senseless or drug you into submission in order to hide you, then that's what I will do. I won't let them find you. I won't...let them take you away...I..." his voice cracked a little as he realized the danger he'd put her in, the weight and severity of it sinking in and destroying him.
He stood from the chair and moved to her, taking her arms and pushing her against the doorway. He pointed into the ring corridor. "I want you to get inside of the armor chamber...and don't come out! As soon as they..." his voice trailed off, still staring at her, and his expression fell just a little. "They...won't be long, I promise. They'll take my cargo...and...and leave. Just let them have what they want. Fighting them isn't worth it. We're out gunned, out numbered, and out matched. I want you to go, NOW, and hide. This is not a negotiation. This is an ORDER, Rowen. Do what I say willingly, please, because I don't want to have to use undesired methods of encouragement. Ophelia, how soon until they arrive?"
"You have approximately two minutes before we are in range of their tractor beam."
He nodded, and looked at her. "Please, Rowen...please. I don't want to lose you. Just go...get inside of the armor chamber." He took her hand and go to lead her back to his room.
Rowen would have fought on any other occasion except this time, this time there was so much emotion in his voice that it shook her to her core. He meant business and he was serious. Falling silent, not offering any protest. "Idris...please..." Stuttering for a moment, she took another deep breath. "I can't lose you either, Idris, so please...don't abandon me here. Please...I don't want to lose you." And quickly, she leaned and placed a short kiss on his lips that said so much more than any words she could tell him, before breaking away and heading towards the armor chamber. She turned to face the doorway, crossing her arms, waiting for him to slide the door shut and lock it.
He let the door slide shut in front of her. He felt the entire ship rock and shudder, almost knocking him off his feet, as Atalanta's skids landed on the surface of the battleship's hangar bay.
"Mistress." Ophelia's image appeared inside of the chamber, looking at her. "If you would like...I can relay the images from my sensors so you don't have to hide blind...or would you prefer not to watch?"
Rowen stared at Ophelia, not sure if she wanted to know what was going on, but she finally nodded to her, whispering, even if it wasn't necessary. "Yes, show me."
* * *
Idris moved to the landing ramp and let it down. Standing at the head of the ramp, he held up his hands in surrender, waiting patiently for his captors to show themselves.
"Captain Chariton." Her words sounded sweet, but the underlying malice made them sound sour. It sounded like purring when she spoke. "I am so glad that we could see each other again. It's been so long since we were together. And now, we can talk more privately. I hope you're not thinking of escaping. I know our sensors show our new generators have disabled your propulsion." She pouted, patronizing. "How awful that must have been for you."
She sighed, moving forward. Her outfit had a form fitting shirt that held tightly to her very attractive form, but her face was like ice. The pale, colorless complexion was beautiful, in its own way, but the skin of her arms had a dark, amethyst hue that made her healthy flesh look dying. Her eyes were silver, her dark hair flowing elegantly down to her shoulder blades. She wore a dark belt and tight-fitted leggings that showed every curve. Her boots came up to the middle of her shin, matching her clothes. The woman stood almost as tall as Idris. "Now, Captain, do you have what I want?"
When he didn't answer her immediately, her happy expression was quickly replaced with rage. She stretched forth her hand and spread her fingers out in a rapid gesture, throwing him off his feet with some unseen force and slamming him into the bulkhead wall. Idris grunted and moved to try to stand again. She pushed her hand forward towards the top of his head and drove him to his knees, looking down at him. "What are you carrying aboard this ship, Captain?"
He shook his head. "No, no, I promise you, it's only me, and...my cargo, of course."
Her eyes looked up and away from him, narrowing at the corridor. She turned around and motioned to two men. "Hadir. Thelo. Check the rest of the ship and see what our dear captain has brought for us."
The tall, stout men nodded at her, their disruptor rifles slung around their back as they turned to walk down the corridor.
She looked down at him, smiling still. "Do you yet know who I am, Captain? Or is the Initiative still maintaining that I do not exist?"
He shook his head. "UDI, I doubt, has had the pleasure of dealing with you...but some day...they'll find you. I wait eagerly for that day." He scowled at her, his response only angering her further.
She struck him across the face with the back of her hand with enough force to break his lower lip against his teeth. Idris spat blood on the ground and looked back up at her. She smiled at him now, grinning, teeth bared. "I am Petraisha Teckhar, Harvester for the Delethirian Empire."
"Mistress, preliminary search yielded no findings. The ship appears to be empty. However, we were unable to access the cargo hold."
She leaned down, her hand on his cheek in mock affection. Her lips moved to his ear. "Come, Captain, let's investigate this problem together." She stepped back, standing up straight and reached towards him using her power to lift him to his feet again.
Idris was pushed forward by one of her guards, forcing him to walk with them to the access panel.
She thinned her eyes, looking over it. She moved to Idris, lifting him off the floor again. She pulled him closer to her, her lips against his ear again. "Idris...please...open your hold for us."
He shut his eyes and shivered. He told her the access code before being shoved forward into the antechamber of the cargo hold. They opened the main door, revealing the virtually empty bulkhead. The pyre fiend was still mounted to the floor in a frozen cube.
Teckhar's eyes widened with excitement. "A pyre fiend. My, my, Captain...when you bring presents." She turned to one of the men. "Bring me a harness."
"I told you, I've no one else on board, just this. Take it, if you'd like." His shoulders fell. He would have to scrub his next assignment, now, and instead of being paid for the delivery, he'd have to pay royally for the loss. He felt despair overcoming him as he wondered what else could possibly go wrong.
"The cargo hold is empty, other than this pet, Mistress." The men bowed to her.
She nodded her head to them, but it was out of respect. When the men bowed to her, they seemed to worship her. "Very good, boys. Now, search the rest of the ship again...see if our captain is hiding anything else."
Idris looked up and felt panic overcoming him. He knew that if he spoke up, she would suspect him. If he pleaded and told her and promised that the rest of the ship was empty...but he held his tongue. A few moments later, the servant returned with the harness that she'd asked for. The chain wasn't very thick, and he worried that it would not be enough to maintain the animal.
She moved forward to the casing where the creature had been imprisoned, and reached out her hand. The ice started to recede, melting away into a pool of liquid on the floor. The creature took only moments to become alert, and as it did, it looked up at her. But, rather than lunge or attack, the creature purred at her. She knelt on one knee at its side and gently allowed her hand to move other the surface of the creature's rocky form. Idris was a little unnerved when her hand didn't catch fire. "Yes, that's right. I'm not going to harm you, little one." She turned around and motioned for the men to harness the creature. It allowed them to chain up its abdomen and connect the harness, handing the end of it to her. She smiled, almost lovingly, at the creature, and then handed off the leash to one of her servants. "Go with them, little one, and I promise...you shall be rewarded."
She raked her fingers over, what Idris assumed, was the creature's chin. The beast followed after the men who lead it away, and to Idris' disappointment, he watched as the trail of steps seemed to leave burn marks in his ship's floor. She turned her attention back to Idris. "Thank you, Captain. I am sure that the creature will be very happy, as my companion, of course." She grinned at him, and Idris felt his stomach churn.
He nodded at her. "Of course, Mistress. Anything...I can do for...the empire." He said her little pet name as patronizingly as he could, his expression falling as he looked around. Then he heard something.
"Mistress! There is another hidden chamber inside the living quarters. We are unable to access it."
She turned on him and glared, her fiery eyes penetrating him with her hate. She took him by the throat and pushed him against the wall. "You haven't been very honest with me, Captain."
She thinned her eyes at him. "I think you have another passenger on this ship. I think you're hiding your operative, like you did last time." She threw him towards the door by the throat, forcing him forward as she followed behind him to his living quarters.
The room was still a mess, and as he looked inside, he saw that they had opened and searched the refresher chamber and discovered the hidden chamber inside of his room. Thankfully, it was still closed. The only thing that gave it away was the seam in the wall. He shook his head, looking at her. "You can kill me, Mistress, but I am not going to open this. There is nothing in there but my emergency engines. Nothing of any interest to you."
She scowled at him and struck him again, her hand hitting him, this time, with enough force to throw him off his feet. He stumbled into the wall, his head hitting it, hard. He felt the room spin, and collapsed to the floor. She glared down at him. "It may very well come to that, Captain, if you do not acquiesce. I'll get inside of this compartment, even if it means the destruction of your vessel. Your best decision would be to open the door for me."
Idris seemed to sink into despair. He knew she was telling the truth. He knew that they would execute him without flinching and then blast Atalanta, and Ophelia, into oblivion. Rowen might survive, for a moment...but once they found her, they'd make her wish for death.
She watched as the chaos loomed in his face, as he weighed his decision. She lost her patience. "Very well..." She turned to one of her servants. "Spill his blood! Then blast this ship. We'll find out who he is hiding without his help!"
He moved, looking up at her. "No! Wait..."
* * *
Quietly, sitting down on the floor, she stared at the image that Ophelia had created for her, watching in horror. Rowen felt her temper flare and all she wanted to do was get out of the armor chamber and light the woman on fire. And then...the woman touched the pyre fiend. Maybe lighting her on fire wasn't going to have much effect. As the men searched the cargo hold, she felt a little relief. Maybe this meant they would go away. Perhaps this meant her and Idris were in the clear, as long as he kept playing by the rules of the game. The knot in her stomach remained though, and she felt a cold chill spread down her body when the men appeared, announcing a hidden chamber. Oh no...that was her. Immediately, Rowen shot to her feet, looking around frantically for any place she could hide.
"Ophelia...I need your help. I need to hide..." But there wasn't anywhere she could see, and even if she tried, she feared they would just find her. "Please, Idris...don't let them separate us." She whispered and her fear for him grew as her fear for her own well-being sky rocketed. They'd kill her. Wincing at the all too familiar, she continued to frantically search the room, praying for any sign of a place to hide, or that Idris would help keep them away from the armor chamber.
* * *
"Wait...I'll..." He sighed, moving to his feet. He was pleading with her. "What is it that you are searching for? I promise, I no longer work for SI. I'm freelance. Just...please, let me go. Allow me to take Atalanta, and Ophelia, and leave. You've nothing to gain from killing me or destroying my ship."
She glared at him and struck him again. "If you do not open this door, I'll make you wish you were dead and take great pleasure in it! And then I'll have your vessel melted into scrap metal and jettisoned into space!"
He shut his eyes a long moment. There was nothing he could do. If he refused, she'd kill him...and then, inevitably, kill Rowen. He nodded at her. "Very well..." He sounded defeated. He moved about the room, retrieving the remote, opening the hidden panel and entered the access code. The door slid open. Idris closed his eyes. He didn't want to look.
The men entered the chamber, observing the armor, the clothes...including the dress, and then found her. They'd pull her to her feet by her hair, dragging her out of the chamber, and then push her to her knees.
"Ah. Engines hmm, Captain?" She kicked his legs out from under him, stepping on his throat. "You lied to me, Captain."
"What...was I supposed...to do? Give...her up...freely...and let you...kill her?" He rasped, struggling to get her boot away from his throat, feeling the room spinning as his run-in with the wall, and his slowly decreasing supply of oxygen, began to take their toll.
"Kill her?" She smiled, her gaze momentarily looking over at her, away from Idris. She pouted. "She is a pretty thing and it would be a pity to pointlessly spill her blood."
"If...you...thought...she was...with...them...you would..." He felt his eyes lids getting heavy as he continued to struggle. She was stronger than he could cope with, especially in his disoriented, weakened state.
"But she isn't, is she?" She let him go, and he grabbed his throat, gasping for breath as he moved to sit up. She went to Rowen, now, and tipped her chin up with a finger. She stared into her eyes for a long moment, looking her over, and then her eyes went wide with surprise. "Oh my..." She'd turned to Idris, who paled.
He swallowed, hoping. "I-I know...she's...pretty, isn't she?"
She laughed at him. A giddy, hysterical, maniacal laugh as her head tipped back at him. She got down on one knee, her hand moving to Rowen's hair, tipping her head back. She smiled at Idris, an evil grin. She looked to Rowen, whispering in her ear. "Mmm...you haven't told him, have you, Little Girl. Mmmmm...but I can feel it. The power inside you resonates against me like...like the warmth of a sun. I can see why you wouldn't want to trust him. After all, he's not very bright...and his will is so easily broken." Her voice dropped a little lower. "And it seems like he'd do just about anything for the likes of you." Her voice became cold as she looked over at her men. "Bind her. She'll come aboard Astaria with us."
Idris leapt to his feet, tears streaming down his face. "No! Please! Wait! Mistress..." He fell to his knees, shamelessly pleading. "I'll...do...anything. Just...please...please, let her go and...just...please...Don't take her...away."
She looked at him, watching with pleasure as he humiliated himself before her. "Oh my, Captain. Developed a little soft spot for your passenger, have you? Mmm...it's so dangerous...the women you love. They don't seem to have very good luck with you, do they?"
He shook his head. "Please...you...you killed Aria...I understand why now...but...she means nothing to you. Just please...free her. You'll...anything, take anything. Just let her go."
She glared at him, and then looked to Rowen. She grinned at her. "I'll free you then, Precious. But first..." She stretched forth her hand, and closed her eyes. Rowen could feel an agony come over her, feel her power manifest on its own, her skin projecting flames all over her body.
Idris sprang to his feet. "NO! PLEASE! STOP! MISTRESS!" He grabbed her hand, pulled it away. He let her palm face him. He put her hand to his forehead. "Please...take...take me...instead. Don't...don't harm her...just...just take me...mine. Her...it is...so much...insignificant in comparison."
She wrinkled her forehead at him, and her eyes filled with understanding. She smiled at him, that same malevolent smile she enjoyed so much. "Captain...all this time...and you hid so well...kept my senses at bay." She licked her lips. She shut her eyes and pushed Idris away.
She pointed to Rowen. "We have everything we need from her. Throw her in the chamber again."
The men obeyed, pulling Rowen up by her hair again, and shoving her into the chamber, hard. Suddenly, the wall met her head...hard. The lights in the chamber swirled...and all she could see was black...
When Rowen awoke, it would felt as though no time had passed. The door of the chamber was still closed, and as Ophelia sensed her consciousness, she appeared next to her. "Mistress..." The voice was solemn as the image spoke to her. "I will open the chamber for you. You will be happy to know that the harvesters let us go. Atalanta is adrift, but I am confident that our captain will be able to make the necessary repairs. Only if he wakes up. Since they shoved us back into space, approximately seven hours ago, he has yet to come to." The image frowned and disappeared, the door to the chamber opening.
Idris was scattered on the floor, not moving, not conscious. He was alive, the fall and rising of his chest made that clear, but he did not appear to be stirring.
Rowen lifted her head slowly, groaning softly as an immediate headache set in. Reaching up carefully, she felt her temple, pulling her fingers away - they had a little bit of blood on them, and she could feel the dried blood caking her skin and hair. What had happened? And then it all came rushing back to her. The woman, beating Idris and then...they had found her. Rowen cringed as she remembered the sheer pain of her powers being forced up to the surface by the woman, and then being let go so suddenly. Idris...she had watched Idris offer himself up for her.
"Ophelia...have you tried anything? Shaken him? Shaken the whole ship? Anything?" Panic filled her to the brim, bubbling over, making every part of her ache as she rushed over to his limp body, ignoring her own pain. She grabbed onto him. "Oh...Idris...please...please wake up. Please!" She gave him a couple of shakes, praying for a grumpy noise of acknowledgment, anything. "Please, Idris...I need you right now. Please be okay. Please wake up! Please!" She was desperate tears falling down her cheeks as she held him, trying to bring him back to consciousness. "Ophelia...can't you read him? Tell me what's happening with him?"
The image shook its head at her. "His heart beat and breathing seem...fine. I can't measure his brain waves from here to check to see if he is in a comatose state. However, like I said, because we are still without propulsion, there is nothing I can do in the way of tilting the ship or stirring him. He...he suffered a great deal...at the hand of his attacker." Her voice fell as the image walked around to the side of his head, looking down at him sorrowfully.
Then the image changed, growing larger, retelling the events that had taken place, showing as she was thrown carelessly into the chamber. Then the woman returned to Idris, her hands moving to the sides of his head. She shut her eyes and then smiled, tensing as Idris cried out in pain, struggling to pull her hands away from him as the agony coursed through him. Because his powers had no manifestation, subtle as they were, there appeared to be no reaction. But she cried out in pleasure and screamed, her eyes opening wide. She moaned loudly and Idris began to twitch. She let go of him, casting him to the floor. She looked over at one of the guards. She motioned at him, and he threw his weapon to her. As the weapon crossed the distance between them, she held up her hand, the weapon moving to a standstill in midair. She reached out and took it with one hand. Then she tossed it back towards him, but reached out her hand after it, the rifle flying past the man and out into the corridor, smashing into the wall. She smiled, pleased with herself. She left Idris on the floor. He groaned again, moving a little and seemed to drift off to sleep, or more likely, he seemed to just pass out at that point.
Rowen watched as Ophelia replayed everything, horror taking over her face, and a hand gently clamped over her mouth. Poor Idris...he had done all that for her?
The memory faded as Ophelia's image returned. "I...I do not know what she did to him, but...it seems as though...she has somehow found a way to acquire his gift." The image shook its head. "We...will not know for sure, however, until he wakes up."
"Well, then we need to wake him up. Idris...Idris, please..." She went back to shaking him, to calling out his name over and over looking for any response from him. Holding him tightly to her she began to rock him gently, no longer shaking him. Great sobs welled up inside of her as she held him, whispering his name over and over. She needed him to wake up, needed him to be okay. "You should have let her take my gift, Idris. You should have let her take mine and you would have been fine. You would have been fine if you had just let her do with me what she wanted. Idris..."
Idris felt his entire world spinning. It seemed to cyclone around him with a great centrifugal force. He groaned softly, and felt his eyes open slowly, barely. His head bobbed a little until his world slowly stopped spinning. He moaned softly and reached out, taking her arm as if to anchor himself. "Where...'s she...?" He managed, half mumbling, half slurring.
"Rowen...?" His head still bobbed a little as his eyes rolled around in his head.
As she heard him speak her name, her heart leapt, and she broke out into a smile, her sobbing quieting. She allowed Ophelia to talk to him, until he finally opened his eyes and then...Confusion came across her face and she let out a little chuckle.
"Captain...concentrate...on the sound of my voice. Focus...You are in your living chambers...with Rowen and I. Take it slowly...and open your eyes if you can...so that we know you are alright..."
Idris nodded groggily. "Ophelia...what happened...to...her?"
The image shook its head. "Do not worry. You are not alone. Just focus on the sound of my voice...and waking up."
He groaned softly, slowly opening his eyes to look at her. He smiled delicately at Rowen. "I remember you..." He shut his eyes for a moment. "Pretty girl..."
"Of course you remember me, Idris. Of course you do. Are you alright? Oh my...you shouldn't have done that, Idris. You scared me half to death." She wrapped her arms around him tightly, placing a soft kiss on his lips, then her kiss moved up to his forehead. "I'm so glad you're awake, that you're talking...Hell, that you're breathing! I'm so glad."
He smiled at her, his eyes still closed. He chuckled softly. He opened his eyes to look at her. "'S okay. You...are alright. You...she didn't...she didn't get you? She let you go...then? Where...where is she...where did they go? What happened?"
"Yes, she...let me go. I can still make fire as far as I'm aware. Ophelia would have mentioned something. I woke up, and...I found you lying here."
"After she...whatever she did...you passed out on the floor, Captain. They left us and jettisoned Atalanta back out into space. We are adrift, I am afraid. Propulsion is still offline."
Idris wrinkled his forehead and groaned. "Good..." He opened his eyes to look at her. He smiled at her. "I don't know what we did afterward...Pretty Girl...but you've definitely got me worn out. I can barely move...so exhausted."
She frowned a little bit as he called her "pretty girl." "Idris, why are you calling me that? It's odd."
He smiled up at her, reaching out with his hand, touching her cheek. "Because you're pretty."
Laughing a little, she shook her head and stroked his hair lovingly.
"Maybe we should get you in bed, I'll get you some tea...you need to rest before you get to work on the ship. Don't you agree?" Staring at him for a moment, she leaned down and placed another soft kiss on his forehead. "I'm so glad you're fine. I don't know what I would have done if I lost you."
He shut his eyes again and moaned softly. He pulled away from her and rolled over onto his stomach, slowly moving to his hands and knees before trying to stand. He looked over at her. "Will...you help me up?" He still looked groggy and worn out, his eyes barely managing to stay open for more than a few seconds at a time.
"Of course. Come here." She gently wrapped her arms around him and helped him to his feet. Once he was steady, she walked him slowly to his bed, gently laying him down. Carefully, she laid him down, covering him with the blanket, as she sat on the edge of the bed. "Is that better, Idris?" She began to stroke his hair again, watching him closely for any signs that something else was wrong. She knew she had to get up and leave him at some point, clean herself up. She could feel the dried blood still covering her temple, but right now all that mattered to her was Idris.
He looked up at her, frowning. He touched her head and pulled away his fingers. "Rowen! What...happened?!" He moved to sit up, very worried. Groggy and weak as he looked at her, his expression showed just how scared he was. "You're bleeding. What did she do to you?" He looked her over her. "We...need to get you cleaned up." He moved to stand up, taking her hand and forcing himself to stand, pulling on her with all his strength, but she could feel how weak he was, trembling as he tried to stay on his feet, the exertion great.
"Whoa...Idris. Stop, shhh. Shhh." Pressing her palms to his shoulders she gently began to push back him back onto the bed. She was stronger than him right now and she didn't find it difficult to do. "I'm fine. I hit my head on a wall, I'd be lucky if there wasn't a little bit of blood. Please stop worrying, I'm okay. Just a scratch. I'll clean it up, and I'll look fine. Okay?" Gently she worked him back down onto the bed, shaking her head a little bit. "I'm more worried about you, okay? You're the one who..." Biting down on her lower lip, she took a deep breath. "Stop worrying about me. Worrying about me is how you ended up like this, so please...just..." She tried to stop the tear filling her eyes. "...stop and rest. Please?"
He felt her overcome him, sitting on the bed, though he didn't want to. He looked at her, shaking his head. "No...no. I want to make sure you are alright. People often pass off head trauma as nothing...because they don't feel anything immediately. We...we need..." his eyes closed a moment and he took in a sharp breath, looking up at her. "We need to...make sure...that you're alright..." He shut his eyes a long moment and winced, his hand moving to the side of his head. He groaned a little and sighed. "And...I need to find out whoever is using the acoustic disruptor inside of my skull...and have them turn it off..."
He grunted softly and looked at her, trying to stay focused. "And I am...worried about you. What else would I need to worry about? You think I would..." He looked at her, his face falling into sadness. "You think I would give up my gifts...to save you...only to have you fall into a coma..."
"Wait...acoustic disruptor, what is that?"
"An acoustic disruptor: it's a...it uses the vibration in sound waves to break up large pieces of rock or debris."
She shook her head. "This isn't the first time I've been thrown around, and been knocked out, alright? Actually this way was a lot nicer than previous times. Please, SIT!" A tear fell down her face and she quickly bent her head to hide them, wiping at her face hurriedly. Slowly she spoke trying to keep the quiver out of her voice. "I wish you had just let her take mine, Idris...I can't stand to see you like this. I..." Her head lifted, as she moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around him. "You mean everything to me, Idris Chariton, and I'll be damned if I lose you, so please...just...stay lying down. I'll go and clean myself up. Please." Holding him gently, she let him go, moving back.
He shook his head. "And better I than you...I wouldn't be able to bear it if she had...taken...it away from you." His shoulders fell and he shut his eyes, the tears rolling down his face. "It's better this way. You're...she didn't get a chance...to taste you...and...you'll..." He grunted, shutting his eyes. It was so hard to sit up...so hard to talk for so long. "If your head injury is as trivial as you say...then you'll be alright...able to fend for yourself, should you ever need to." He rocked a little, his eyes closing. He wanted so badly to get out of bed and accompany her. "Are you sure...you don't...need...help. I...I don't want...anything else to happen to you...for you to get hurt." He reached back for the bed and lied down again, his eyes having so much trouble staying open.
"Idris. I would have never asked you to give up your gifts. What good have mine ever done me, hm? Maybe she would have been doing me a favor." A half-hearted, bitter chuckle escaped her lips and she looked away from him. "I'd have been normal and you wouldn't be so weak." Quietly, she leaned to place a soft kiss on his forehead. "Rest, Love, and I'll clean up. Please...just promise me you'll wake up again. And when you do, I'll bring you food and something to drink and...we'll try to make this better. Just promise." Sighing heavily, she watched him lay back down, and gently grabbed the blanket to cover him with again.
He grunted softly, his eyes closing as he submitted and decided to rest. "Just...please...come back to me..." He whimpered a little, and finally drifted off to sleep.
"I promise." She whispered, watching him drift off to sleep.
"He appears to be in good health, Mistress. When he wakes up, however, we should get him to the medical bay in the ring corridor and make sure that that is no underlying damage. The transition of power has apparently left him very weak...but he should recover. Think of it as though you had just sprinted for twenty-five kilometers...with no breaks. How might you feel?" The image was on the bed, next to him, looking up at her. "And we should take a look at your head. He is correct. Many humans often pass off head trauma as little to nothing. But if you are bleeding, you should absolutely get some readings to check for underlying injuries."
Even as Ophelia spoke to her, her eyes remained on Idris. She still couldn't believe what he had given up for her, just to keep her safe. Before she began to cry again, she focused on Ophelia. "Fine, Ophelia, let's go get my head looked at. Ring corridor you said?" Standing up slowly, she began to walk out of the bedroom, reluctantly, wincing as she felt her headache grow stronger. Making her way around the corner, following the image. As she approached. The wall opened up on her left, moving to reveal the space behind. There was a cot, a sink, and supplies from about Rowen's waist up to as high as she could reach.
"Ophelia, where would you like me for my readings?" She asked as she ran the water, washing the blood from her head. She grabbed a bandage and watched as it seem to soak up the blood rather quickly.
"Over here, Mistress." The image beckoned, standing on the side of the bed. "Lie down here so that my scanners can look you over and make sure that you are otherwise alright."
Rowen looked over at the flat bed, looking a little uneasy about it. It was about waist height from the floor. It was extremely meager, just a two inch piece of foam on top of a plasteel slab. Well, she didn't like doctors, so what? Tossing the bloody bandage away, she walked over to the table, and slowly eased herself down onto it. "I'm sure it's just a headache, Ophelia. I've got a bit of a scratch." She reached up to check if her head was still bleeding. Just a little, she noted, probably from rubbing at it. Closing her eyes, she waited for Ophelia to begin her scan.
An arm extended out of the wall on her right, and starting at her feet, moving up slowly to her head, the empty semicircle, two small extensions that were reminiscent of pincers, projected an azure beam of light, a line that crossed perpendicular to her form. The blue line moved up to her neck, extending slowly towards her head. "Close your eyes, Mistress. The scanner isn't harmful, but it's rather bright in your eyes." The machine waited, and then extended over her head, the pincers swung around 180 degrees when they reached her scalp, moving down over her forehead again. The machine stopped, the line changing to a square, centering over her head wound. A monitor pushed out of the wall near her feet and then extended out on a short, hinged arm, showing her the screen. It projected the picture of her body and then zoomed in on her head. It showed how far down the bruising and the laceration went. It fell millimeters short of her skull.
"You appear to be alright. I think once Captain Chariton is alert enough, you should have him bandage you properly. For now, just take the cold compress-" the arms connected to both the scanner and the monitor receded into the wall and a different space opened, a small arm extending and reaching out towards her, a white pack in its finger-like prongs, "-and hold it to your wound to slow the bleeding and impede any further bruising from forming." She'd wait for her to get off the bed before it would retract back into the wall, the image standing on an imaginary platform near where the monitor had extended, the projection at eye level as it looked at her.
"So I'm fine? Like I said." Making a bit of a face, she knew it was best to have taken this precaution, than to be sorry. Idris needed her right now. "Thank you, Ophelia, for the check up. I'll just temporarily bandage myself up and wait until Idris is stronger to bother him with this scratch."Laughing a bit, she got up off the table to grab a bandage. Walking to the nearest mirror. Guilt began to wash over her and she quickly finished repairing her temple, taking a step back to make sure it'd stay secure. "I'm going back to check on him." She whispered and began to walk back towards the bedroom.
Idris still lied in his bed, not having stirred in the slightest in her absence. He was on his left side, his arms held close, though there was nothing to hold onto. We're it not for his steady breathing, he would have otherwise appeared dead to the world.
She paused at the doorway, staring at Idris for a very long moment, watching his chest rise and fall. It broke her heart to know that he was so helpless, that he was so weak. "Ophelia." She spoke softly so that she wouldn't disturb Idris. "Are you aware of any way to...give him his powers back? Even if I had to steal them back from the woman who took them?" It was perhaps a terrible idea that was crossing her mind, but she was curious more than anything. Idris would kill her if he knew that she was even thinking about it, but it couldn't be helped.
To my knowledge, I am not aware of any method by which you could 'steal' his power back from her and eventually return them to him. I think...the...woman...just has a...an ability, I suppose, to do so. I guess it would be what you might call 'unique.' But the short answer is 'no.' I am afraid not."
"Thank you, Ophelia. I'm going to rest also, if you don't mind. Um...if you would do me a favor, please wake me if I don't wake when Idris does. I want to make sure I'm with him at all times until he's better." Sighing heavily, she dragged herself over to the bed, slowly lying down beside him. Gently, trying not to disturb him, she curled up as close to him as possible, placing a hand on top of his chest, feeling his gentle steady heart beat beneath. Closing her eyes, she took another deep breath and began to drift off to sleep, praying that Idris would be alright.
Instinctively, when she got closer, his arms reached out, and with an unexpected strength, pulled her back and shoulder blades against his chest. His chin rested near her shoulder, but he otherwise didn't stir, his sleep undisturbed. She smiled as Idris grabbed her, pulling her to him just by his sheer instinct. He continued to lie there, completely asleep, holding her closer.
"I will...wake you, should Idris fail to do so, when he wakes up. However, I should warn you...eventually our propulsion failure will need to be addressed. For now, we're in a distant orbit, unlikely to fall into any harm...but should the Delethirians get any second thoughts and return...I fear the situation would be far worse than before."
"Yes of course, Ophelia. If we have to, I'll try and fix it myself. But like you said, Idris should be better soon." And then she was silent sighing again, as she got comfortable, and began to fall asleep. It was such a comfort to feel him there holding her. Especially after she had come so close to losing him.
Idris rested for a long time, sleeping for what felt like months.
When he stirred, he still felt a little groggy, but he did feel as though he had the strength to walk. When Ophelia appeared next to the bed, Idris motioned at her. He put a finger to his lips, something Ophelia...though it had taken her a very long time to learn how to...interpreted as a signal to be silent.
Her voice was only audible to Idris. "But Mistress Rowen instructed me to wake her when you were alert again."
"Well, 'alert' and 'awake' are both relative terms. And I am overruling her. Blame me when she says something to you about it, but don't you DARE do anything to disturb her."
The image nodded and disappeared. Idris slowly moved out of the bed and snuck away from her. He looked over himself and frowned. He felt sore in some places, weak in others. Despite his handicaps, he managed to walk into the refresher chamber. He stepped into the unit and let the cold water run over him. He shivered beneath it, letting the numbness overtake him. His teeth were clicking together as he stepped out of the shower. He looked in the mirror and checked to be sure he had no outward injuries. Then he went back to the shower and took as hot a shower as his body could handle. He rinsed his hair, body, face, and everything...as thoroughly as his fatigue would allow. He then dried and went back into the room, without a towel, trying to remain as quiet as possible.
"Captain."
Idris glared at her, putting a finger to his lips without saying a word.
Her voice dropped again. "Propulsion is offline. We are currently in a safe orbit, but I recommend that you affect repairs in case we should need to leave the system in the next 350 solar cycles."
Idris nodded at her, and began to dress.
Rowen stirred as she heard Ophelia that second time, talking about...propulsion, was it? Her groggy brain couldn't process fully. A smile began to play over her face as she slowly sat up, wincing at the headache she still had.
When he heard her stirring, he winced, and then scowled at Ophelia. "You FAIL." He mouthed silently at her, very irritated. He'd hoped to be able to shower, dress, eat, and fix the ship ALL before Rowen was even thinking about being awake. He didn't want her worrying about him or feeling unnecessarily burdened while he was working. What's more, he didn't want her to go insane with boredom or feel compelled to distract him while he was bringing Atalanta back online. Not that he would have disliked her distractions, but he was worried more about her safety.
"How long have you been up, Love? And...why didn't Ophelia wake me? I wanted to be sure that you were fit to get out of bed. And...you showered. I could have helped with that."
She gave a look quickly before he could make a smart remark. "In a very platonic way, in which my only goal would to make sure you were clean and not straining yourself."
He paused as she spoke, but only for a moment, before he moved to finish dressing. Quickly, she stood from the bed before he could stop her, giving her body a little stretch. He then moved, turning to her, his hands on her shoulders. With a renewed strength she'd not expect, he'd help her sit back on the bed. He pointed at her. "You need to stop worrying about me. You're the one with the head injury. You should be resting, young lady." He peered down at her and peeled away the bandage, looking at her wound. He grimaced and shook his head. "We should get that looked at and make sure it's not as BAD as it looks..."
Giving him a sour look as he sat her back down, she rolled her eyes. "This head injury? Does it really look that bad? It's a scratch. Ophelia checked it out in the medical bay, right, Ophelia? All she said was to have you bandage it a little better and I'll live. So please let me stand now, Idris, I'm fine." She gave him a sharp look that clearly said "don't order me to go back to sleep or I will bite your head off," and began to stand. "And I get to worry about you. You're the one who...well you...you were so weak, and that means I get to worry about the man I...the man I...got...into this mess." Cheeks flushed suddenly and she gently pushed him to the side as she moved around him. "Look, I'll be good. I'll take a shower, get dressed, and you can bandage my pretty little head, and then...I'll just sit around. Eat something, help you with Atalanta."
"Or..." He said softly, reaching out and taking her wrists. He pulled her close to him and leaned in, kissing her deeply on the lips, holding her there for a long time. He decided if she was awake enough to start with her lip, and being overly worried and maternal, then she was certainly awake enough to kiss him.
Rowen smiled as he pulled her right into him, melting right into him as he began to kiss her. Arms wrapped around him immediately, her lips moving against his. When she felt he had been good and kissed, she gently pulled away, feeling a little out of breath. "I think I liked the 'or' better. Just in my own personal opinion."
He smiled at her and leaned in for a quick kiss, gently pressing his lips to hers for just a moment before pulling away. He looked down at her. "I like the 'or' option as well. However, you still get to stay here and rest. Or, I can drag you into the refresher and make sure you are all good and clean...and stuff." He grinned at her, that clever, devilish grin. "Then we'll change your bandage, clean your wound...because it's not just a cut...and you can go back to sleep while I get the engines fixed. Or..."
He moved closer to her, his breath gentle on her skin as his lips leaned up to her ear, his hand pulling her back against his chest. He nibbled on her lobe, holding her firmly.
Shivering as he nibbled her ear lobe, she had to force herself to take a step away from him. "Alright how about this...no wait, this is what I'm going to do. I'm going to shower...without you, and then you can take care of my wound, which is not a just a cut to you, but a scratch to me, and then you will fix the engines while I eat...and maybe hover. So..." Clearing her throat gently she looked him up and down, resisting the urges she felt, but she knew that now was not the time. "You're still weak, still should be watched and we won't be...doing... Alright? And if we do, I'll just be even more annoying and worried and... So. Refresher." She gave him a warning look as she moved around him and hurried into the refresher, starting the shower up immediately. She sighed as the heated water touched her skin, and she winced just a bit when the water pressure pressed at her head wound. It would be fine, she figured, and shrugged it off, grabbing for soap to begin to work through her hair.
He wanted to go after her, and even as he stood there, he could not pinpoint the force holding him at bay. He sighed and sat on the bed, deciding to wait for her. He shut his eyes and lied perpendicular across the bed. He dozed for the few minutes it took before Rowen had finished her shower. He still felt extremely tired, but simultaneously, he did not want to sleep. When she came back into the living quarters, he started to stir. He looked up to see her there, wrapped in a towel and looking for her clothes. He sat up, looking at her, watching as she searched around with her back to him. Then he noticed something that alarmed him. He stood off the bed and moved behind her, his fingers reaching out and gently touching the lines on her back.
Rowen let him touch her back, but suddenly, her mind went to her whip markings. She had never thought of them until now. Wincing, she looked down at the tiled floor. "I was found out when working at a small inn on Verin. I was using my gift to light candles when my boss walked in on me. He dragged me out into the streets, started screaming at me until they came and arrested me. They wanted to know where others like me were and when I wouldn't talk...when I tried to light them on fire and escape...They tied me up, whipped me...over...and over..." Eyes shut at the memory and she took a deep shaky breath.
He shut his eyes a long moment, looking over the marks, his fingers delicately tracing over them. "I wish I had been there..." He paused for a long moment. "After...she...died...I found...I discovered my powers...by accident. I was at a tavern on the capital world...and one of the waitresses went to hand me my drink, and it went flying out of her hand...it...it didn't end very well for me, but...I survived...and...I do not have any scars to show for it." He kissed the back of her neck. "Your situation bears much more tragic circumstances. Humans...they are not forgiving, and they are, by nature, terrified of what they do not or cannot understand..." He then turned her to face him, slowly, and leaned in and kissed her. "I promise, Rowen...I'll keep you safe, as much as I can. But, I am afraid that if the harvesters come looking for you, there will be little I can do in my current state, especially with the degree of power they've seemed to have acquired."
"The whipping is only...the beginning of what my life has been. If you think this is bad..." She chuckled, bitterness edging it as she looked back down, away from him, almost as if ashamed. "I know you will do your best to keep me safe, Idris, but...you're right. Those harvesters could very well come back and...take my gifts. Worrying about it at this moment, however...will do nothing for us." She turned around to face him again. Reaching up, she caressed his face gently for a moment, studying him, his features, looking into his eyes. "Besides...what does not kill us only makes us stronger. Isn't that right?" Another hard chuckle and she gently turned him so she could begin to rub his back.
His back tensed as he bristled. He let her turn him around, and shivered with the feel of her fingers on his back. He couldn't remember when he'd had someone so gentle touch his back, but he had a hard time imagining that it might have been as good as she was. "Heh. Unless it does kill you...then it doesn't do much to increase your strength. It's ok...next time...NEXT time," he emphasized, "I shall not be so helpless. If the harvesters want a fight...I will give them a fight."
"And so will I. I think we've learned that locking me up doesn't work. They'll find me. Idris...please...if they return. You don't have anything more to offer them." Except his life. The thought chilled her to the bone and her hands froze on his back for a moment.
He stopped and looked at her. "Atalanta has two more escape pods inside of it. I am going to have antispace window generators installed in the pods. If they should attack us again, you will NOT be here. I'll put you in the escape pods and you'll be transported to a preprogrammed destination. After I have defeated them, I'll come and get you." And if I don't survive, seeing as I've no other option, I'll have SI pick you up. He wanted to tell her, but he wasn't about to get her worrying again.
She didn't like the idea of leaving the ship without him, but she obliged, not saying anything in return. "Come on, Love, let's go. Don't you want to patch up me head?" Arching an eyebrow at him, she waited for his response.
He stopped, his expression changing dramatically. His gaze looked out of the corner of his eyes, his lips pursing thoughtfully. "Well..." He blinked a few times, unsure as to how to respond, torn between his desire to be frivolous and his sense of responsibility for her. "I...I think...we should..." He paused a long moment, his mouth slightly opened as he tried to think of something witty to throw back at her. "I think we should...get...you all...dried off, and then...patch up your head." He nodded slowly, and then more determined, his voice matter-of-fact as he looked at her, still filled with doubt and feelings of unsurety.
"Well if that's what you want to do, then we'll do that. Come on." Leaning forward, she stole a quick kiss and stepped away from him.
"You do realize that if we manage to get anything done, it is going to be a very boring day." He seemed a little concerned by this, but not as much as his voice indicated.
"It's alright. I can entertain myself. I want Atalanta to be your first priority today, Idris. You need her up and running. I can take care of myself, don't worry." Feeling as if she was dry enough, she removed the towel and tossed it over to him, covering his head successfully. She then moved to where she had been keeping her clean clothes. "You ripped one of my shirts." She commented over her shoulder as she pulled her pants on, choosing once again to go through his clothing looking for a shirt that would fit her. "If I'm going to be living here, I'm going to have to buy myself new clothes.
He scoffed. "I doubt that. We'll get you whatever clothes you need when we get to where we are going." He sighed, and looked around. He was going to have to tell her eventually, about everything, but he didn't want to spoil the mood at the moment. They were obviously not going to Baramasta, at least not yet. He was going to have to pay for the stolen creature eventually. "Feel free to wear my clothes in the mean time."
"Oh, don't worry, I have no problem wearing your clothes." she said simply, pulling on a shirt of her choosing before she turned to look at him.
"Ophelia?"
The image appeared on the dresser, as usual. "Yes, Captain?"
"Begin a full diagnostic on life support, engine power, sublight propulsion, anti space traversal, lighting, and weather control. Notify me when-" He paled.
The image looked confused. It shook its head. "'Notify you when'...what, Captain?"
"The transmission! Before we were attacked, you said we received a communiqué. Did you complete the decryption?"
"Yes. Of course, Captain. But, you told me not to bother you about it unless you-"
He cut her off. "Yes, yes I know what I said. The message is ready for viewing then, yes?"
The image nodded. "I can bring it up in the galley's projectors or in the cockpit, whichever you like."
She arched an eyebrow as Idris suddenly seem to fly into a panic. Not sure what this message meant, but curious to find out, she tucked the shirt in carefully, so it looked like it was fit for her. "Idris? Who’s the message from? What's...wrong?"
Without answering her, he took off into the ring corridor. He almost jumped into the pilot's chair. "Go ahead, Ophelia."
The image was standing on the control console when he arrived in the cockpit. She disappeared as the image came up on the viewscreen. The man in the image looked older, perhaps in his late forties or early fifties. His brown hair was short and graying. He looked worried. "Idris. It would appear that you are, once again, out of contact. I am sending you this message to inform you that...the other faction...is searching for you. They know Atalanta. My informants on Adrondonas tell me you are transporting a pyre fiend. However, intelligence that I have just received informs me that Bothawei was paid off by...them, to help them intercept you. Do not go to Baramasta. Please, if you get this in time, contact me. Durron out." And with that, the message faded.
Idris sunk in his seat. He sighed, his voice was quiet and defeated as he looked up and spoke. "Ophelia...contact General Durron...and notify him of our situation. Should he request it, brief him..." He rose from his chair and sighed. He felt frustration trying to overcome him, but he ignored it. He ignored it all. He needed to get Atalanta repaired and then get Rowen off his ship.
"Yes, Captain. Should he desire to speak to you, shall I notify you?"
He nodded slowly. "Yes. Let him know that...I am at his disposal."
Rowen made it to the cockpit just as he slumped down in his chair. She wasn't going to be nosy, she knew better than that right now. "Will it always be this way? You run off without telling me what's going on?" She was calm, walking into the cockpit, looking around. She knew nothing about ships, so the buttons and levers were interesting for her, and she found herself wanting to push them - which of course she didn't. She was no longer a five year-old who was going through the "touch everything, and stick it in your mouth if you could" phase.
"Are things alright? You don't look very happy."
He looked up at her and smiled. "I...yes...everything is fine." His composure lasted for a second before his frown returned. He shook his head. "No...no, I am afraid it isn't. I...I keep trying to hide everything from you, but it's much too late for that." He moved closer to her and took her hands in his own. He looked solemn as he stared into her eyes. He couldn't help himself, leaning in and kissing her, before pulling back and looking her over. "You have proven to me that you are no longer the young girl who stowed away on my ship. You deserve to make your own decisions. Your own...informed, decisions, I mean. I want to tell you...everything. No more secrets, at all. I am sorry I rushed away, but...it...I didn't have...the chance to explain to you. Here...just...just sit down and watch...it." He frowned at her, and motioned for her to sit in the pilot's chair, seating himself in the copilot's chair.
It was odd for her to hear Idris finally give in to the fact that she was no longer that juvenile, little creature, who chose to hide on his ship. That he trusted her with information. Slowly, she sat down in the chair, staring at him for a long moment, all of a sudden very uncertain about what she was getting herself into. She pushed for honesty with him, but what if honesty was going to scare the hell out of her? Still she swallowed hard, nodded to him, and gently bit down on her lower lip. Rowen didn't fully understand, a look of confusion settling over her face as she stared at the message, letting the words roll around in her head... "Then...we don't go to Baramasta. It's as simple as that, isn't it? But...I'm afraid I don't fully understand the situation. Who is Bothawei? Who has paid him off? Surely he was not talking about those harvesters, because it is much too late for a warning..." Her voice trailed off as she focused on Idris, desperate to understand.
He flinched visibly. "No...the...the other..." But he was cut off by the sound of Ophelia's image on the control console.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Captain, but General Durron said he wanted to talk to you, and not...'some stupid ship's computer.'" She seemed visibly annoyed by the words.
Idris looked over at her, and then to Rowen. "Just...stay here."
The image came up on the view screen. He looked surprised to see that Idris was not alone. "Oh, hello, Captain Chariton. You have guests. I'm sorry."
Idris thinned his eyes at him. "Shut up, Tiber. Tell me what the hell is going on. I got your message, by the way, but not until after Petraisha Teckhar and her merry band of henchmen took my ship, broke my engines, and stole my cargo...amongst other things. 'The Delethirian Empire,' she said. 'Join us,' she said. If the bitch hadn't tried to kill my friend Rowen here," he nodded his head in her direction, "then I may very well have given you all up! Unfortunately, she got away, and now Atalanta's adrift our here."
Tiber Durron's face fell a little, and he nodded. "I am sorry, Idris, that we didn't keep you informed. I understand your outrage. I'll have Avenger come out and pick you up. You needn't worry about your ship." He paused for a long moment, and looked straight at him. "I am truly sorry, Idris. I had no idea that...that they'd sent her to look for you." He frowned. "As for your cargo, the transaction, the job...apparently, they were all a setup. The deadline was only meant to rush you out impetuously to Baramasta. Obviously, it worked. How are you otherwise? Are you hurt? Do you have life support?"
Idris eased a little, nodding. "Yes, we are otherwise alright..."
"What else did she say? Did she tell you anything...other than giving you the full knowledge about...herself?" He seemed a little disappointed about this still.
"No, other than her name and blowing the lid off everything about who this other faction is, no. But...she..." He sighed and shook his head. "As you know, when Aria was...killed, her gift was somehow transferred into me. Somehow...this woman...was able to take it away. She now has Aria's powers."
Tiber's eyes went wide. "Really? But, that's impossible. We've studied gift transfer and found that...it wasn't viable. This is very bad news." He exhaled through his nose and looked back at him. "Idris, if you are willing, when Avenger picks you up, we'll tend to your ship, rearm her with new specifications, and then send you out on mission. I know you were not willing, before, to return, but after you drop off your passenger at her location, perhaps, with your new knowledge, you would want to return to the fold, on the same terms as before."
Idris sighed, and looked down. He didn't say anything, just nodding.
"Splendid." He clapped his hands together. "I'll notify Captain Johansen right away. Durron out."
And with that, the image faded, and Idris was left with Rowen, and what he imagined were a hundred questions circling around in her head.
Rowen was being good, keeping her mouth shut as the two men talked between themselves, but she remained attentive. She may not have understood a lot of what was being said, but she knew very well that if she continuously piped up, she'd learn a lot less. There was one part that stuck out in her mind, which made several emotions flare up inside of her as she held her tongue quickly. Wait...wait...And then Durron was gone, and they were left in silence. Slowly, Rowen looked over at Idris, taking a deep breath, trying to be calm, to sort all the information out. "Return to your fold? Drop your...passenger off? I think the first thing I want to know is if I should pack my bags or not. That kind of dictates the rest of my questions."
He frowned at her, and his shoulders sunk. "That...that's actually what I wanted to talk to you about, Rowen. I...you kind of...got pulled into this, against your will, I might add. I had no right to do this to you, to put you in this situation." He sighed, reaching out and taking her hands. "I want to tell you...everything...anything. Once...once you have all of the...what you...the answers, you ask for, then I want you to decide. You can stay with me...and...everything. Or, I...can take you somewhere...somewhere safe...I want you to make an informed decision, though. It's not my right to tell you what to do, and if you want to stay...then..." He sighed, his frown turning up only slightly. It was clear he wanted her to stay, for the most selfish of reasons...but he also wanted her to go...so she could be safe.
"Not exactly against my will, Idris. I'm the one who grabbed you in the streets, the one who boarded your ship...twice. I'm the one who decided to stick around." Looking down at their joined hands, she gave his a little squeeze. "Alright go ahead. Tell me everything. What happens if I stay? I know very well what will happen if I go, we don't need to talk about that. What happens if I stay, Idris?" A look of seriousness crossed her face, a look that was not often seen on Rowen. She wanted to know what her choices were, even though she knew very well that she wanted to stay with him, to make sure he was safe, even if that meant putting her own life at risk. She owed him everything right now for all that he had done for her.
"Well, General Durron has offered to fix Atalanta, at his expense, and then upgrade her. This would save me a lot of time, and money. He would probably send me out in the field, again, which would also make me a lot of money." He sighed. "The downside is that if you come with me, you'll be put on the radar. I...don't really want that for you...but if you want it, then I can't stop you." He frowned a little. "As far as...anything else...I don't know. Ask me, and I'll tell you." He smiled, half-heartedly. He felt open to her, receptive to her inquiries, and he wanted her to feel secure and be able to trust him the same way he felt he currently trusted her. "If there is anything you want to know, now is the time."
"Put on the radar." She muttered, taking the information in as she stared at him. Ask him anything? She knew what she wanted to ask him, but wasn't sure if she should. Slowly, she took in a deep breath, studying his face closely. "Would you like me to stay? And I mean, do you WANT me to stay? Put your stupid logistics aside, all the practicality...just tell me if you want me here." Her head tilted to the side as she studied him closely.
His mouth opened to speak, and his expression fell. He looked disappointed. He sighed and took a long moment to answer. "I...I just...I want...I want you...to be safe, Rowen. I want to know that...whatever...you decide, that...that you'll be alright." He let out a long breath, looking at the floor. "That...being said." He looked up at her, his eyes watering. "I want you...to be happy." He smiled, weakly, just for a moment, and then shut his eyes, trying to blink the tears away.
Rowen stared at him for an even longer moment, then sighed heavily, and shook her head. "You're still using your head too much. Still thinking too much. What do you FEEL, Idris? I know you Captains are all logical, and you want to do what's best for me...but I want to know what you feel, Idris. Do you WANT me to stay?" Her hold on his hands tightened, as she watched him.
He shut his eyes a moment, the frustration bubbling up from inside of him. He stood and looked down at her, pulling his hands away. "What do I feel? What do I FEEL?! I feel TERRIFIED, Rowen! I'm sacred! I'm scared that the Delethirians will come for me again, and this time, they'll take YOU! I'm terrified to see you turned into a monster or a slave...or...worse! I'm scared for you to get involved with SI! What if you like it more than I do...and you go...away somewhere, into a vicious battle, on the war front?! I feel like I could lose you either way, and in only one instance, I could see your life taken! I'm worried about you, and I want you to do what is best for you and...and get out of this before...something terrible DOES happen to you!" He exhaled, realizing that he was yelling at her. He shut his eyes a long moment and walked back to the rear of the cockpit, leaning against the wall. "But...I...I don't know what I am going to do...after you're gone." He shut his eyes, his face looking at the floor, and he didn't open his eyes or say another word to her as he stood there.
As his voice escalated into a yell, she visibly winced, dropping her head like a child in trouble. Patiently, she waited for him to finish yelling, her hands tightly clasping one another, wringing together gently. When finally all had gone silent, she took a moment to try to clear the shakiness from her voice and body. "Terrified is a good place to be...It means you care. But...you have to trust me about something, Idris...that I will never enjoy battles, or war. My whole life has been a war. I will never leave you for a battle, Idris...that just is not who I am." Pausing a moment, she stood up facing him. "As for the Delethirians...it's possible. They could take me, they could come back...but I've been captured many times. And I'm still here. I'm not being cocky...I'm terrified of being captured again. Absolutely terrified. I still dream about being locked in prisons as a young girl, being abused..." Her voices trailed off, but she quickly regained her voice and strength to keep speaking. "What's best for me...is...Hell I don't even know, Idris. But I do know this for sure: If I were to leave you, I'd feel terrified every moment, wondering where you were, if you were alright, and I...I don't know what I'd do. And I know that you are the first person to care about me in so long and...I can't let that slip away again. I want to stay...but only with your consent. I will not force myself on you, Idris. I never wanted that. Why do you think I ran all those years ago? Not to spite you...to protect you. Carrying someone like me...will always be dangerous. That is what I am. A danger to anyone who cares about me."
He sighed and looked at her. He smiled weakly and shook his head. "You are not dangerous. You can't help your gifts." He smiled and squeezed her hand. "And, if you want to stay, then stay, Rowen." He moved to her, slowly, taking her hands and holding them close to him, gazing into her eyes. "...then stay. I told you...you're welcome to stay here as long as you want. I will never send you away, unless I must." He leaned in and kissed her again. Returning his kiss tenderly, she nodded at him, smiling a little weakly herself. "And I promise, from now on, to continue to be honest with you. I don't believe that you are dangerous. I think you are wonderful. I just can't stand feeling this way...feeling so afraid." He frowned at her. "I feel so helpless..."
"You may not think I'm dangerous, but most people do. And the fact you're involved with me...that makes life even more difficult for you. You should just know what kind of woman you're bringing into your life, is all." She wrapped her arms around him in a gentle embrace, leaning her head on his chest. "I love you." Then her heart stopped, and she quickly bit her lip quick to try and tack on another word. "...and Ophelia. You both...just...care...so much." Gently she backed away from him and let out a little laugh. "You two are just...amazing. Sorry, the girl...gushing is...over. Why don't you um...fix your engines? Or do we not have to worry about that since someone is being sent...for us?"
When she tried to get away from him, he stopped her, grabbing her wrist. He pulled her close and kissed her, a long, deep, passionate kiss. He pulled her closer to him, his arms wrapping tightly around her. He didn't let her go for a long moment, and when he broke the kiss, he held her face gently in his hands, looking at her. Surprised to be pulled back, she was not disappointed by the kiss he delivered. Arms wrapped around him once again, and she pulled him closer to her, keeping the kiss going until he broke again. "It's ok, Rowen. I...I love you...too." He smiled weakly and blushed a little. Eyes lazily opened, and her lips spread out in a smile as he reassured her it was okay. He...loved her too. He shook his head, following her lead. "No...no, we...Avenger should be contacting us shortly. They'll obtain our coordinates and come and pick us up." He smiled at her again and moved to sit in the pilot's chair. He swung it around to look at her. "S-so...you...any...other questions?"
Her heart stopped all over again and she barely heard anything he said about Avenger. Staring down at him, now in the pilot's chair, she tried to formulate words. "W-Y-You...I...No. No questions. What about you? Want to ask me anything? I think I've asked enough for the day."
He shook his head at her, smiling. "I cannot honestly think of anything to ask you, but you must have something you're curious about." He beckoned her toward him, hoping she'd read his mind like she seemed able to do on some occasions, and sit in his lap. Moving towards him, she gently slid onto his lap, hooking one around over his shoulders, and smiled at him. "I don't want you to have to wonder about anything anymore." He smiled at her, pleased with himself, and her reaction.
"...When...?" Rowen asked suddenly, arching an eyebrow at him. "...the uh...the...love...thing. When?" She reached up to run her fingers playfully through his hair, mussing it up even more. Chuckling softly, she felt her cheeks redden as she waited for an answer.
He started to answer what he originally thought her question was. "I am not sure, usually Cap-" He stopped midsentence and blinked at her. He seemed utterly baffled by her inquiry. "I...w-what...what to do you mean...when?" He honestly didn't know. When she had said it, he'd simply made the realization. Though, the feeling itself might have been there for a long time and he just hadn't recognized it.
"It's a silly question. But uh...I knew that I had...uh...fallen...in love, when you threw a mug at my head, and I still cared about you." Shrugging a little bit, she smiled sheepishly at him. "Not the best memory but it's true. And it was solidified when you gave up your gifts for me...to keep me safe. You don't have to answer me...I was just...caught off guard. I never expected to say it, and I didn't think you would say it me. And...hell, I'm really hungry. We haven't eaten."
"Wellll...I...I guess we should eat...then." As he moved to stand up and walk away from the pilot's chair, he made a fleeting glance at the console and wondered if it might be faster to just hail Avenger himself. He felt an eerie chill run up his spine, hesitating in the door. He looked at her, then the console, narrowing his eyes. "Actually, I'm a little worried. I think I am just going to call Avenger on my own. We're completely helpless out here. If anyone shows up...well..."
"Oh...alright." She gave him an odd look, it didn't seem to mean that much to her. Leaning against the door frame, she looked into the cockpit, arms crossed. Rowen could be patient and wait for him to hail Avenger, before they grabbed food. He was probably right. Calling the other ship would allow them to find them faster.
"Ophelia?"
"I'm already attempting to hail Avenger, Captain."
The screen filled with the communications array. Then suddenly, a voice came over the speakers. "Idris. And what do YOU want?"
Idris rolled his eyes. "Hello, Lieutenant Wymond. It's always so wonderful to see you."
The image came up on the screen, a blond-haired woman, about Rowen's age, with blue eyes and pale skin. She thinned her eyes and glared. "You didn't answer my question, Captain." The way she said "captain" left no doubts about her contempt for him.
"Well I was just wondering if Captain Johansen was going to give me the honor of contacting me."
Her expression filled with confusion. "Contact you? Why whatever for?"
Idris made a face. He had hoped that it wouldn't be like this. "I was told you were being dispatched to assist me."
"General Durron does not command Avenger, now does he, Captain?"
"No, he does not. However, last I checked, he does outrank its captain. Why don't you notify Captain Johansen about my call and see if she has a moment to speak to me."
The woman's cold smile disappeared from the screen and Idris was left to fume silently as he sat back in his chair.
Rowen immediately noted the mysterious hostility between the two of them. Whistling softly she walked over to the copilot's chair and plopped, smiling over at Idris. Watching him fume for a couple of seconds, she finally decided to pipe up. "Girls like you, huh? You...stud...you ladies man..." Laughing easily she leaned back in the chair, getting comfortable. "By the way, I like the chair. I think I'll sit here with you all the time, and do running commentary on amusing communications."
Idris slowly turned to look at her. "Yeah...there's...a little history...there, I'm afraid." His shoulder sunk and he looked at the floor a moment, and then back up at her. "A...a few cycles ago-"
But he was cut off when the screen filled with a different woman. "Hello, Idris. I heard you had a little run-in with the Harvesters."
Idris nodded at her. "Yes. I suppose you could say that."
"I'm sorry to hear that. And oh look, you have a passenger. I hope you got a better deal than last-"
"Captain Johansen, if it is going to be too much trouble to accommodate Atalanta for just long enough for me to do a few repairs, please, by all means, let me know. I'd hate to burden you. I'm sure you have a militia to exterminate somewhere, anyway."
"No. We're already en route to your location. It's so funny that you called. I was just about to contact you. Anyway, Johansen out."
And the screen went blank. Idris fought the urge to pick something up and throw it at the screen. He shut his eyes for a long moment and then turned to look at Rowen. "Let's go get you something to eat...shall we?" Whatever amount of hunger Idris had felt before, seemed to have dissipated.
"Eat. Alright. If you explain the woman. And if I'm going to have to have my guard up when they come aboard." Shrugging her shoulders, she wiggled her fingers. "I can do fire tricks." Seemingly in a good mood, at least when compared to Idris' current mood, she bounced up from the chair and held her hands out to him. "Come on, Love..." Leaning down, she placed a soft kiss on his forehead, then moved down to his cheek, then finally placed a gentle kiss on his lips. "...You should eat something too. You've only recently recovered and I'm not taking chances with you. Fair enough?"
"I'm not really hungry, but the short of it is they are still mad at me about what happened to Second Lieutenant Ariadne Usid. Apparently they're a little bent out of shape, still, that I let her die." He walked past her, a little mad. His pace was a little quick as he made his way to the galley and started to make food, occasionally hitting the machine with his closed fist. It was likely the entire room would be on fire if he had the power to.
Her mood went right down the drain and she watched him walk right past her. Sighing heavily, she followed after him, sitting down at the table watching him. "Id...Idr...IDRIS, stop!" She pointed at the plate in his hand and shot a small ball of fire at it, probably forcing him to drop it. Getting up from the table, she grabbed his shoulders and pushed him back into the wall. "Time...out..." She held up a finger pointing at his face, warning him not to speak a word until she was done. "...I know...I know how horrible you feel about losing her. I know you cared about her and how it...killed you to lose her. But...stop...I know you, and I know you probably did all you could and...slamming machinery around is NOT going to help matters. Especially with those nasty women coming aboard. And I know you're going to snap at me after I'm done talking, so just...be nice about it." Finished she let go of him and took a step back, hands on her hips.
He was a little caught off guard when she shoved him back to the wall. He seemed a little distracted by the finger in his face, but he heard her. When she let go of him, he frowned. He shook his head. "I'm...sorry, Rowen. I...I had no right to be so...abrupt with you."
"No, you didn't have any right but..." Rowen shrugged a little bit as she began to take over making food, for the both of them, determined to get him to eat something.
He frowned again and moved to sit down at the table looking over at her. "And, you don't need to worry about them coming on board. I doubt they'll give me the pleasure of even getting to see them face to face. It's likely that they'll help me repair the ship, bring my weapons up to spec, and then push me back out into space." He sighed, shaking his head. "They...they say...they can still feel her here...when they come on board...so they avoid it."
"Well then if they don't come on board, the better for both of us." She paused a moment, her hands stopping what they were doing as she looked up at him. "I'm sure they can still feel her everywhere...just like I'm sure sometimes you feel her. It happens I think...when we lose people we care about. They...are such a part of us..." Her voice trailed off as she cleared her throat and quickly began to go back to work. "Not that I'm an expert...no one ever cared enough about me for me to lose them and be affected." A lie, an outright lie, but whether he could tell or not she didn't know.
He shook his head. "No...I don't feel her on this ship. I...that's..." He exhaled. "I don't mean in the mythical sense, like they haven't moved on or whatever. Kayla and Captain Johansen just...they were very close to her, and their link with her was...Just, it's really complicated, ok? But, not what you think. I think they can actually feel her here." He sighed. "I'm sorry. Can...can we talk about something else, I...I don't want to dwell...on it." He frowned, resting the side of his head on the table.
"Fine...we won't dwell." Childishly she wanted to add "you brought it up first," but bit her tongue. No sense in starting an argument right that second. She finished up with the food, sliding him a plate, as she sat down across from him with a plate of her own. Reaching up to push her hair back, she gasped as her fingers touched her delicate cut. "Remind me to wash this again..." She commented quietly, pushing her food around her plate gently, her own appetite waning a little. "Where are we going after the ship is repaired?"
He looked up and winced as he watched her touch her head. He moved and got up from his spot at the table and went to her. Gently, he helped her stand up. "Rowen, I think you should get your wound cleaned again."
"Id...But...hey!" She stared at him, surprised he was ushering her away so quickly. "I made food." Shaking her head a little, but she sighed softly as she let him lead her into what she figured would be the medical bay. "You're just going to clean it right? Nothing else?" She didn't like doctors, meaning she didn't like the tools they used. Needles for example, or stitches, or anything like that. It made her sick just thinking about it.
He helped her to the medical bay, the station folding out in the same theatrical way it had for her. He helped her onto the bed and then considered her, perplexed by her inquiry. "What do you mean? Do you want me to suck on it or kiss it better?" He tore the bandaging away, as quickly as he could, hoping to spare her the prolonged pain. The wound had formed into a bruise with a healing cut at the top. He frowned and began rifling through doors. He took out a small, clear, transparent packet filled with a red-orange liquid inside. It was thick and syrupy, as he gently applied it to her bruise. It stung a little, but only for a moment. Then she felt nothing when he touched her head there.
"No, that's not what I meant. I meant I don't - OW!" She gasped at him staring at him in a mild shock. "You could warn a girl." She grumbled reaching up to touch her head.
He reached up and grabbed a metal rod that had a long cord on the end of it, pointing it at the wound. A laser emitting from the end, and he quickly guided it down over the wound. She couldn't feel anything with that laser, but she was not happy about it, nevertheless. Then he grabbed same bandaging and slowly formed it to the size and shape of her wound, pressing it to her head and holding it there for a long moment.
Sighing as he pressed the bandage to her wound, she waited until he was finished to pipe up, not looking very happy. Perhaps like a cat would look after being soaked with a hose. "Good thing you're not a doctor."
He smiled at her, and went through her list of complaints. "Ok, A, if I had warned you, you would have flinched...which makes it worse. B, the gel is an anesthetic that will help numb the pain while I work on it. The laser helps bind your skin together, harmlessly, to help it heal that much faster, and C, on some planets, I am a doctor." He grinned at her, curtly, and then let the bandage stay against her head on its own. He looked her over, and felt satisfied. "And now you won't have to worry about your wound until the next time you end up in the refresher." He winked at her suggestively and helped her down.
"You are a doctor on some planet?" She gave him a look and shrugged her shoulders. "Good thing I fell in love with you BEFORE I found that out." Running her fingers through her hair, she looked around the medical bay, making a face.
"Yes, on some planets, I do qualify as a doctor." He winked at her, watching as she ran her fingers through her hair, smiling at her expression.
She didn't even like being in this room much. "But you're fine, right? I mean. I don't have to patch you up or anything?" Personally, she'd rather not sit around and play with all the medical gadgets.
He shook his head at her. "Yeah, I told you, I'm fine. I didn't ever really get hurt." He smiled weakly at her and followed her away from the medical station, which, as he walked away, closed its doors and folded up into the wall that it was hidden. He looked back at it and frowned. He realized now that...he should have left her there. He knew that they never would have looked for her. He sighed and then turned away, following her to the galley to see if he could eat the breakfast that she'd prepared, the small loss about the potential hiding place settling over him despondently.
As they made their way back to the galley, she couldn't help but reach up, touching where he had put the bandage. As much as she disliked doctors, if she had to choose one, she was glad she could choose him.
He sat down, looking over his food. He wasn't sure what she had prepared, but it smelled good. He started eating, hesitantly, and tried to avoid eye contact, feeling a little self conscious. He hadn't had to consider someone's perceptions in a long time.
Rowen sat down with him, eating happily, until she realized how slow and cautiously, he was eating. Smirking, she paused, setting her fork down as she watched him. "You know, if you hate it - I won't actually get upset. So you can stop eating so slowly. Unless that's...how you eat. Then I'm sorry for pointing it out." Laughing a bit she took another couple of bites of the food she had made.
His gaze wandered away from her face. "Actually...I...I don't usually...use utensils. I find them...inhibiting..." He continued to use the fork, his pace faster, but he still seemed very aware of himself. "You're...it tastes...great." He smiled at her and then continued eating.
Arching an eyebrow, she looked down at his plate, then back up at him. "You can put the fork down I won't...laugh. We all learn to eat differently." She shook her head, laughing a bit before she ate a little more. "And thank you. I'm not the best cook, but I get by. I've mostly worked as a server in restaurant, and I have knack for making jewelry. I used to sell it, when I could afford supplies."
He smiled at her. "I was taught the proper way to eat. I just find it...slower..." his gaze drifted. Despite himself, he continued to shovel food into his mouth.
"You're a puzzle to me sometimes, Idris, you know that? I'm going to enjoy figuring you out since I'm staying here." She paused a moment, deciding to continue on, keeping her mood light, thinking that perhaps it would lift his own spirits a bit and keep his mind off the two women who had previously put him in such a foul mood. "This means you realize that if we get into any more fights, you'll be sleeping in that cockpit again. As far as I'm aware, the woman gets bedroom domain during a quarrel." She finished up her food and stood up to dispose of the plate and utensils. While she was up, she quickly fixed herself a hot cup of tea, needing something to soothe her entire body. She sat down at the table with her now steaming mug of tea and set it down in front of her, leaning forward to blow on the hot surface.
He smiled at her. "I'm glad I'm such a mystery to you. You seem as though you'd be able to see right through me. It makes me feel a little safer knowing that you still have to guess." He winked at her and got up to get rid of his plate. He dumped it into the discard bin and programmed up a cup of hot chocolate. He felt annoyed by the culmination of circumstances that seemed to be working against him.
Nodding confidently, she looked down at her tea, lifted it to her lips and took a careful sip. "Do you see right through me?" She asked suddenly, eyes lifting slowly to focus on Idris. Rowen knew that she had shared so little with him about who she was. "Perhaps not..." She quickly began to add, clearing her throat softly. "How do you...fall for someone who doesn't let you in? Well...on their past...I mean. I...I'm stuttering, sorry. My mind began to just go off on its own. Sorry." Sheepishly she looked down. In fact her mind had gone off on its own tangent. Her own thoughts spoken aloud before she even had time to catch up herself.
He watched her from his cup, sipping and not saying anything, hiding his smile in his mug as he watch her verbally hemorrhage and speak thoughtlessly. She was amusing when she lost control of her mouth that way. He waited a long moment, allowing a very awkward silence to set in. Then he set his cup on the table and looked up at her, letting her mind go insane a moment. "It may not be very fair, but you'll find that I find it quite effective. For you, however, I would be anxious to see you try and win a battle in that sort of 'cheating' manner." He grinned a little bigger and winked at her, taking a long sip. "But no, to be honest, I do not see right through you. Much of you is still a mystery. However, to answer your question, I have long discovered that a 'more mystery, less history' approach to a relationship or interaction is often the safest." He didn't say anything else, just watching her in a manner he hoped would make her feel increasingly vulnerable.
Rowen shifted her weight in her chair a moment, definitely feeling that uncomfortable vulnerability. "Oh..." She did such a poor job of hiding it. "I suppose so...but surely you don't want an entire relationship to be a mystery. Not forever...eventually history should be learned. One should know what they are getting themselves into. But perhaps maybe I'm too careful...too distrusting of people. Bad judge of character. Not...that I think I judged your character wrong I..." She sighed, heavily leaning her head into her hand, propped up on the table. "You do this to me on purpose don't you? Make me nervous, make me just babble." Making a face, she took a sip of her tea indignantly. "You've certainly figured out how to do that."
As he finished his cup, he walked silently over to the discard bin. He dropped the cup into the bin and walked back over to her. "It is certainly a welcome change. More often I feel as though I am the one who mindlessly babbles." He winked at her and kissed her. He proceeding to tousle her hair and left her. He didn't say anything else as he made his way back towards the cockpit.
She laughed as he messed up her hair, smiling as he simply walked away. A mystery, she decided. He may think she saw through him but truth was she often times didn't know what he was thinking. Perhaps she just guessed well. Shaking her head, she finished up her tea, and followed him into the cockpit. "Have the repairs been started yet?" She asked curiously, plopping down in the copilot's chair which she had seemed to stake her claim on. She liked the feel of it.
He didn't look at her. "No. Avenger hasn't even thought to-" And as if on cue, a passage opened before them.
A ship, massive enough to dwarf Atalanta twenty times over, dropped out of antispace not a hundred meters from them. He exhaled through his nose and looked up at the ship. She was beautiful in all her glory. A massive vessel, Avenger's length seemed to extend for almost a thousand meters. The ship wasn't very wide, but it didn't need to be. It was still wider than Idris' ship was long, almost three times in fact. It had a flat feel to it, no outcropping of any kind visible on her hull. The silver color of the ship was vexed by scattered veridian lines that covered the ship. A huge insignia of a golden falcon, wings spread and talons extended, was planted on either side of the ship, a black circle printed around it. It was based on the signal of the first UDI, but Secondary Initiative's insignia had a black circle around her falcon as opposed to the white one that UDI vessels often possessed. The ship seemed to slowly drift overhead. Without warning, Atalanta lurched and began moving towards the vessel. As the tractor beam guided them into one of her larger holds, Idris rolled his eyes, a little annoyed that they hadn't even had the courtesy of hailing him before dragging him aboard. He surveyed the landing deck, noticing the seemingly endless rows of fighter squadrons attack crafts.
Rowen stared at the other ship, awe struck by its size, and beauty. Even she, who didn't know much about ships, could recognize a beautiful ship when she saw one.
Idris frowned a little, looking over the deck as Atalanta set down on inside the launch bay. He looked over at her, his tone and words a little sharper and abrupt than he'd intended. "Wait here."
A look of sheer indignation appeared on her face and she sat back in the chair, arms crossed and she promptly began to sulk. She glared at him as he left the cockpit and folded her arms, curling up in her chair like a child denied their after-dinner dessert.
He walked down the corridor to the landing ramp and went to meet the dock master.
"Captain Chariton. It's nice to have you aboard." The man was friendly, his jumpsuit a navy green with orange patches. He was obviously the ranking officer on the deck. He was about Idris' height, but thinner and more muscular. He had a pale complexion, brown hair, and brown eyes.
"It's nice to see Captain Johansen and her first lieutenant decided not to meet me."
The man smiled and shrugged. "I doubt you'll be missing her, or she you. So, tell me what's going on with Atalanta?"
Idris shook his head. "When the harvesters ripped us out of antispace, it burned my sublight engines. They're completely shot."
The man nodded, solemnly. "I heard about that. Let me be the first to congratulate you in managing to survive. I'm sorry that we weren't in time to intervene. Unfortunately, General Durron wasn't able to provide us with precise coordinates."
Idris frowned again. He shook his head. "I'll be fine. I am more worried about her than I am myself."
He patted Idris on his back. "Don't worry, Captain. As soon as I have my mechanics finish up their current repairs, you'll be next on the list. General Durron also sent us along with one of the new energy weapon turrets. I thought we'd install her on the underside before you disembarked. Shouldn't take more than five or six days."
Idris smiled warmly and thanked him. "If you need us-me...if I need to get out of your way to allow you to do your work, just notify me."
He nodded at him, saluting and walked away.
Idris returned his salute and walked back up the ramp, letting it retract as he made his way to the ring corridor. He felt infinitely better as he proceeded back to the cockpit.
In his absence, she stewed in that broody mood, staring at the control panel wondering for a few moments what would happen if she just began to press buttons at random. She stretched her palm out and little flames began to swirl around and dance in her hand. Sighing heavily, she didn't even bother to look up when Idris returned. "I waited. Now can I move?" She asked without looking up, her eyes focused on the flames in her hand. "Or will I be sent to bed without supper, Captain?" She snuffed out the flame in her hand and looked up at him, glaring.
Idris' forehead wrinkled in confusion. "Rowen?"
She cut him off, standing up from the chair. She pointed out the viewport and put her face in his face, more aggressive and confrontational than she had been since arriving. "I don't want it to be like this anymore, Idris! I want to be an equal. I don't want to have to run and hide everytime someone comes breaking down your door or intrudes on your ship." She stepped away and turned her back to him a moment, holding her head before she turned back to him. "I WANT to be able to stand next to you as an EQUAL. I know you're worried about me, but have you ever considered that I am just as worried about YOU?" She stabbed him in the chest with her finger. "I'm sick of running and I'm sick of hiding. I thought things were going to be different with you, with this ship, here."
Idris was speechless. He looked at her, completely caught offguard by the intensity of her emotions. He held up his hands in surrender. "Whoa, hey, I'm sorry, Rowen." He tried to pull her into an embrace but she shoved him away. He frowned, a little hurt by her rejection.
"I just...I don't want to feel like this anymore..."
Idris shook his head. "Feel like what, Rowen? C'mon, look at me. Where is all this coming from. When I walked away, I thought everything was fine. I thought we were on a good streak. Then I go to talk to the mechanics and I come back and you explode at me?" He shook his head. "What's really wrong?"
She looked up and glared at him. "What is that supposed to mean?"
He shook his head. "It's not supposed to mean anything...I just...look, I just want to figure out what is going on. If I don't know something is bugging you, I can't fix it, ok?"
"Whatever." She stormed out of the cockpit and headed for the medical bay.
He frowned and watched her storm out of the cockpit. He tried to follow after her. "Rowen...wait." He moved in the way of her as she walked. He knelt in front of her, taking her hands as he groveled in front of her. "Rowen, please, I'm sorry that I upset you. Really. I didn't mean to. I...I don't even really know what happened." He frowned at her.
She gave him a long, hard look. It was hard for Rowen not to just wrap her arms around him and forgive him as soon as he knelt down in front of her, but she held fast. Head tilted to the side slightly as she watched him, studying his face quietly. "Why did I have to stay in the cockpit? Are you ever going to trust me with things that are...outside the refresher and galley? Oh...pardon me. I know the medical bay now." Huffing, she walked to the medical bay and slumped on the bed. He followed after her, kneeling by her. "Idris, leave me alone. Trust me, I know how to...stay. As you pointed out." Rowen realized what was really getting under her skin was she didn't like taking orders. She had never done it before in her life, not from anyone, and the fact he could be so bossy drove her insane. Two stubborn people, going head to head on a small ship. That was just asking for arguments. Frowning even more, she stole a glance at him, meeting his eyes for a second, and for one brief moment sympathy crossed her face. Immediately she buried it looking away from him.
Seeing her hurt broke his heart, and he looked genuinely sorry. "I'm sorry, Rowen. I...I don't know...how safe it is going to be out on the launch bay. I'd never live with myself if you'd followed me out and..." He paled a little, feeling that terror he'd felt rushing up from that place where he'd tried to hide it away. For a long moment, he paused, his eyes going somewhere else as he remembered how terrified and panicked he'd been when the harvesters had found her out. He shook his head. "Listen, I'm sorry, ok? I'm not trying to keep you boarded up or even order you around. I am just trying to..." He faltered with the words, wanting to make sure he said the right ones. "I just want you to be safe, alright?" He sighed, looking at the floor and shutting his eyes. He loved her, but he realized how much like an overprotective father he was behaving as opposed to...well, whatever he was supposed to be for her. Wasn't it his responsibility, as her captain, to do everything in his power to ensure her safety?
Again she looked at him for several moments before she responded. This time, however, her face softened. Slowly, she moved off the bed, sliding to the floor in front of him. "I don't like being given orders...that is how I am. I raised myself. I've been on my own since I was fourteen and...people never...protected me. Maybe you're not being bossy-" She hesitated, made a face, not really believing herself one hundred percent there, and continued on. "...you're just protecting. And protection and bossy...it all just gets mixed up for me. But, Idris...I can take care of myself. I'm really very self-sufficient, I promise." She'd seen the terror on his face when his mind went to the worst scenario and she realized how much he feared for her. Gingerly, her arms went around his neck, resting atop his shoulders. "And I'm pushy. I want to know everything, I want explore, and stick my nose in places where it probably doesn't belong. You had business to deal with on the launch bay and...I'd be in the way. I just want to protect you too." She fell silent then, letting her words sink in, and finally she made her apology. "I'm sorry...for blowing up at you."
He watched her as she spoke, nodding slowly as he listened to her. "I know..." Perhaps a part of him needed her to need him, but he wasn't sure if that was the case. "And, I don't...mind if you're pushy. However, one thing I am confident of is...no matter how experienced you truly are, this is an arena you're more unfamiliar with than I am. I need you to trust me, when I say 'don't,' that I am not just trying to be bossy. I'm doing it because I know better and know things you haven't had the chance to learn yet. It wasn't that you would have been in the way, it's just, for now, Avenger and most her crew is under the belief that I am alone. I intend to keep it that way. Your presence would only further complicate things. Which...which is not your fault...it just...it's reality." He sighed. He didn't want to sound callous.
"I understand you know more than me. And...you're right. I will stay out of sight, and out of mind, from anyone but you and Ophelia." Looking a bit disappointed with having to agree to that, she forced a smile and looked away from him. "I just hope...that you won't always have to hide me." She took a moment, quietly lost in her thoughts before a real smile crossed her lips this time as she let out a soft chuckle. "...You need someone to keep you on your toes. And who better than girl who'll shoot fire at you?" A gentle hand reached up and touched his cheek, caressing it lightly. "You have people working on your ship. Do you need to go supervise them?"
He smiled at her and shook his head. "I doubt that the mechanics will get a chance to even start on Atalanta for the next while. Besides, they'll start with the external repairs I was unable to make on my own and...well, when they need to come inside, I guess we can just hide you in the refresher." He winked at her, grinning some more. "But they will not need my supervision. Anything they do wrong they would simply have to fix. It would be counterproductive for them to sabotage anything."
"Hide in the refresher? Is that your favorite place on this ship?" She teased gently, reaching up to steal a kiss. "So what do you plan to do while they repair her? I mean...How long do you estimate it will take?" Rowen realized suddenly that if she was going to stay on this ship, she was going to need a hobby. Knowing so little about ships meant that what Idris did around the ship would mean nothing to her. She'd have to figure out something to keep her busy, besides Idris of course. Perhaps, she thought, she could go back to making jewelry like she once had. Rowen loved it, and had found she had quite the eye for such things.
"As far as a time estimate, it's anyone's guess. Why, do you have somewhere you need to be?"
Shooting him a look, she let out a soft laugh. "I was just wondering how long we'd have company, and the possibility of interruptions. That's all." Shrugging innocently, she paused to look around the medical bay and finally made a face. "This place...I don't like it very much. Whether you're a doctor or not."
He looked around. When not in use, the bed, the utensils, the supplies...all folded into the wall and appeared as though it was nothing. The only reason he knew how to find it was because the way the metal was arrayed looked subtly different in this part of the corridor. It wasn't much deeper than a meter or two, and was more for emergency, one-person life saving. He smiled weakly. "Well, I am sorry you feel that way, but it is a necessary part of this ship." He frowned a little, old memories creeping in as he looked away from her face, trying to hide the emotions that bubbled to the surface. His little station had grown in complexity and advancement a great deal since...since he'd realized he needed it. "But, we'll see if we can't figure out somewhere for you to be when you're not with me." He smiled and winked at her, kissing her forehead.
Shaking her head a bit, she looked around the room seeming to consider something. As he kissed her forehead, her attention snapped back to him, and she immediately smiled. "Somewhere that...isn't the refresher." She commented, her arms tightening around him as she leaned up to once again place a kiss on his lips. "I just don't much care for doctors or hospitals or anything of the sort. Bad experiences..." Her own emotions began to bubble up as she took a moment to look away, clearing her throat gently, as she let memories hit her then slowly begin to slide away.
He nodded at her, sensing the unease and chivalrously lifted her up into his arms, picking her up off the floor. He leaned in and kissed her a long moment before carrying her away from the area. As he got far enough away, the walls folded back into the bulkhead, once again looking like any other part of the ring corridor. He leaned against a wall near the galley and kissed her, wondering how long he could hold her before she found a way to deter his hold on her.
When he lifted her, she tensed for a moment, wondering what he was up to. "Idris..." Her voice was cut off as he kissed her. Arms gently wrapped around him and even when he leaned against the galley wall, she didn't dare break that kiss. It was nice after fights like they had just had to just feel that safety with someone, to feel that close. Finally, she broke the kiss, her forehead leaning against his gently. A soft, breathy chuckle escaped her. "Idris...you can put me down. I don't want you straining to carry me..."
He considered this for a moment, quite dramatically and shook his head. "No." He leaned in and kissed her again.
About to argue with him, she found herself once again silence by his kiss. Giving in, she returned his kiss, one of her hands gently running through his hair and down to his cheek, caressing him tenderly. Even though she had first been worried about him lifting her, and keeping her up, she figured he'd put her down if he began to struggle. But he didn't. He continued to hold her, leaning against the wall for support. He did, however, decide to alter their interaction, moving to allow her legs to wrap around his back, he allowed his hands to reach up and hold her near her shoulder blades, deepening the kiss as he kept her off the cold, metal floor. As he moved her, she did just that, gently wrapped her legs around him, making sure she was balanced well enough, before wrapping her arms around his neck. She began to speak, wanting to throw in something witty, smart, but she said nothing, only opened her eyes to look at him for a moment, a happy smile appearing on her lips. "Idris, are you sure this is what you want?"
A unfamiliar voice, one not belonging to Rowen or Ophelia, pierced through the corridor, snapping Idris and Rowen from their activity. "I think that would be rather awkward for the three of us..." The voice came from a woman, the sound not even a meter away.
The woman stood in the corridor, arms folded. She was tall, about Idris' height, with crimson hair and blue eyes. She wore a green flight jacket that was open, a black shirt underneath with pants that matched her jacket and black boots. She was smiling, quite pleased with herself. Idris pulled away from Rowen a little, his eyes almost popping out of his head. His gaze swung over to the intruder and his attention seemed to be completely torn away from Rowen in just a mere moment.
"Tsela?! How did you...what..." Idris was shaking, enraged and terrified at the same time as he fumbled to speak.
The new voice had the same effect on her as a bucket of ice water would have had. Turning her head quickly, she stared at Tsela for a moment, realized she was still in the arms of Idris, and scrambled out of them, landing awkwardly on the ground.
"You forgot...it's not difficult for me to get aboard ships like these...especially when Ophelia is still so easily convinced by me..."
"What do you want?" Rowen piped up, her voice cold and warning. Already she could feel the heat beginning to form under her skin, ready to shoot out at any moment. Hands were placed on her hips as she stood there trying to be as tough as possible.
Appearing distracted, Tsela raised her hand towards her face, turning it palm up, curling her fingers in and examining her nails nonchalantly. "I just wanted to welcome Captain Chariton aboard." She gazed up at him, smiling once more. "I'm sorry if I interrupted anything, Idris. I'll just leave you and your..." She looked at Rowen, considering her, her expression showing disappointment and pity as she regarded her. "...Well, whoever this new girl of yours is." She grinned again at him, a smile filled with malice and ice. "Should you need anything, please, call me. Or if your time expires before you..." She looked over Idris suggestively, her eyes lingering on his chest. "Well...you know..." She winked suggestively at Idris, who blushed.
He was visibly trembling. "Get...off...my ship, Tsela. And...don't you come...don't you come near me...or Atalanta...again...unless you have my permission." He pointed, though his hand was still trembling, his voice shaking as he commanded her. "I already told you that you weren't welcome on my ship."
She almost looked hurt. She frowned at him and then pouted. "But, I was just dropping by to wish you well...what's the harm in that?" She seemed to purr her words, moving to lean against the corridor wall, one leg bent with her boot flat against it, one on the floor, with her back flush against the surface as she continued to watch Idris with no apparent intention of leaving.
Oh, Rowen didn't like her. Not one bit. She wanted to light the woman on fire from head to toe. "The new girl is Rowen." She snapped out, hands remaining on her hips as she just dared the woman to make a smart remark. And she definitely didn't like the look Tsela was giving Idris. "You dropped by, you wished him well, now I believe he asked you to leave." She was not going to keep her mouth shut this time. Her eyes flashed with dangerous anger as she unconsciously took a step forward almost ready to start a fireball in her hand, just to serve as further warning.
Idris' reactions seemed impeded. He looked over at Rowen a moment and then back at Tsela. "Just go...Tsela."
She smiled a little bigger, moving away from the bulkhead and shrugged. She walked away, strutting confidently as she made her way off the ship.
Idris' gaze lingered on the place where Tsela had been for a long moment before he seemed to return to the proper reality. He looked up. "OPHELIA!"
No image appeared. Only her voice seemed to be present. "I apologize, Captain. I was not aware that-"
"Well you're..." his hands balled into fists, and he looked like he might have an aneurysm. "Don't...let it happen...again. Lock down the ship. If anything so much as touches Atalanta, you'll alert me, and you'll activate the security and intruder deterrent systems." Idris was still trembling. He leaned against the wall and wrapped his arms around himself, his back slowly sliding down as his knees bent and he squatted, staring wordlessly at the floor.
Trying to breathe easy, Rowen didn't let her tension go until Tsela was out of sight. Growling a little after her, she looked over at Idris, waiting for him to finish barking orders at Ophelia. "Well...that's one way to kill the mood. Old girlfriend of yours?" She asked coldly, her temper not directed at him, but at the woman, who was no longer even present in the room. Rolling her shoulders as if trying to rid herself of tension, she finally fully focused on Idris. Concern flooded her face. "Idris? You alright?" Quickly, she moved over to him, kneeling down on one knee in front of him, as she reached out to touch his face delicately.
He looked over at her from the floor as though only just noticing her in the room. He inhaled a sharp, shallow breath. "I...no...I-I'm...I'm fine." He smiled, but it didn't even qualify as weak, simply an expression to offset the deep frown that had formed on his face. He stood, slowly, looking around, still trembling. Then, as though finally hearing her words, he replied. "Tsela? A girlfriend?" He shook his head. "No...not...not quite...not exactly..." He looked crestfallen. "It's very complicated. Ask...ask me...some other time...please." He pleaded with her, and shut his eyes for a long moment, trying to regain his composure.
Surprised by his surge of emotion, or rather lack of, she quickly nodded. Gently, she wrapped her arms around him, only long enough to place a tender, loving kiss on his forehead. He flinched when she hug him, but then refused to let her go "Of course...I was only...never mind. Do you need anything from me, Idris? Anything I can do?" She pulled back a little, but she didn't move away from him, keeping her eyes focused on him, worry etched into every feature of her face.
He reached out and caressed her cheek. "I'm fine, Rowen. I promise. I just...I was surprised." He hoped, futilely, that she would buy it...but only moments after he said it, he realized his words might only move to anger her further, and he immediately regretted it...but he didn't act to correct his error.
"Surprised?" She echoed doubtfully, and immediately pulled back to look at his face, studying him closely for a moment. A look of pure disappointment was mixing in with that worry. "I may not be empathic, but I'm also not stupid. Glad you're okay..." Slowly she began to rise, breaking away from him. He just kept lying to her about things, and it was frustrating, and even starting to hurt her.
He shut his eyes a long moment and then moved, reaching out for her. He sighed. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Rowen. I...I don't know...why I said that." He frowned, his expression filled with guilt.
"Lying becomes second nature to people. I know it just as well as anyone." She quipped back, stiffening up as she stood, staring down at him with a blank expression.
"Tsela...has..." He chewed on it for a moment before he continued. "She's a Gifted...but...her...her...what she does...is...it's unique..." He sighed, shutting his eyes and trembling. "She can...create illusions...very...very detailed illusions. Like...she can make herself...look...different...so flawlessly...that it's nearly impossible to tell the difference..." He was trembling again. "She is also Captain Johansen's only niece..."
Arms slowly folded in front of her as she listened to him explain. Another Gifted. And here she had hoped to meet others like her and actually LIKE them. So much for that hope. "And...she's used that gift on you before." Holding up a hand she chuckled a bit, trying to keep the anger out of the laugh. "...I don't want to know details about that. You may lie all you want about that. My stomach is only so strong." Taking a few steps back, she leaned against the wall, letting out a soft sigh.
He shook his head. "It's...it's not what..." He smiled weakly. "She wasn't quite that nice about it. Sufficeth to say her aunt and Kayla are not the only ones on Avenger who were close to Ariadne...and after her friend...after she...when she found out I was...here...last time..." He shut his eyes and shuddered. "She showed up...looking...like her..." He tried to smile, to hide his emotions, but his eyes started to water and she could see his composure wearing. "...I...I...despite...being alone, I was not able to sleep very well that cycle..."
Rowen was immediately appalled by what Tsela has done, her eyes widening and she looked towards the corridor she had gone off in. "That...She...How dare she! If I see her again, I will set her on fire a hundred times over." She growled, feeling suddenly very protective of Idris, just as she had before when Tsela had first appeared. Focusing back on Idris, she sighed softly..." I'm sorry, Idris. You, you didn't deserve that...not even a little. She...she's...I don't know..." Sighing heavily, she slid to the ground as well, stretching her legs out towards him. "You really loved Aria, didn't you?"
Idris scoffed at her and shook his head. "No...no...I didn't. Not even a little. But for some reason...she seemed drawn to me. Unfortunately, for her...she...wasn't very ugly...and..." He shook his head, sighing. "And...I wasn't...very picky..." He frowned. "I didn't love her, but...I can't...seem to get her face out of my head...now. But she mine as well have been just some girl...some girl who is dead because of me..."
Smiling faintly, Rowen studied him quietly, and then looked down at her own lap. "They are all wrong to blame you so heavily. No wonder you beat yourself up so much...it's not...right." Feeling restless, frustrated, and all sorts of other things she jumped to her feet, lit a fire in her hand, and threw it right into a wall with a growl. Sighing heavily, as if that had made her feel better, she looked up towards the ceiling.
He sighed and looked up at her. "And there is no one but myself to blame, Rowen. I...she is dead...because I didn't save her. And while Tsela's behavior might have been moderately uncalled for...I understand why she did it." He smiled a little. "But the only reason I came back here is because...only a few of the people here really..." He sighed. "Only a few of Avenger's crew feel as Captain Johansen and the few others do. Much of them mourn her loss, but they maintain that it was Aria's fault that her life was extinguished..." He shut his eyes and shook his head. He moved to stand. "I need something..." He walked away towards the galley, wanting to escape what he was feeling.
Rowen only listened this time, frowning down at the floor until she heard his steps recede. Unhappily, she stared back up at the ceiling again and let out a soft groan of frustration. "Ophelia...what am I going to do with him?" Waiting a few moments, she went after Idris, seeing no other alternative. If she didn't love this man, she would have burnt him up a long time ago, or at least slapped him hard across the face a couple of times.
"Idris?" She called out gently as she entered the galley, frowning as she looked for him. "I understand if you want to be alone. I just wanted to...double check. I can go busy myself in the bedroom."
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