Part 2

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 Ophellia would put your clothes in the chamber. I guess that means you'll just have to bug me every time you need osmething 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.