Two can play this game.

Since the very night when... that bloody bastard... dared to violate her, the whole ship seemed to be on a tense kind of standby. Vik was sporting a black eye and the ever-present smirk; Jorgan had his brows knit and stare heavy all the time - but he kept silent; Juun seemed to meditate around the clock; Elara did raise an eyebrow at the sudden addition to Vik's face, then shot a worried glance at her commander, but said nothing. While the commander...

The commander was being moody, waiting for the Weequay to pull another nasty trick - she'd already got a clear view of his nasty personality, so it was really a matter of time to her. Only that this waiting began to get on her nerves - and that not to count the nightly self-study she picked up when she dug into reports and documents.

At least it was a fair enough alternative to sleeping. Dreaming, actually; however, her coffee was slowly but steadily running low, and she feared the day the stimulant would run out at all. That would not be a happy night.

And it definitely wasn't one, not when the clean bottom of the coffee can stared right back at her when she reached for another nightly dose. Bugger that... She pressed her forehead against the cabinet, going south just thinking about the hard fight with sleep she'd have to face.

- Some hard knocks I'm taking, - she grumbled after putting the empty can back.
- Hard knocks from whom exactly, sir?

Commander turned around sharply and faced Dorne's disapproving stare. Medic had her arms crossed, and was visibly annoyed.
- Good night to you, Dorne...

She'd tried to nonchalantly steal past, but the medic was savvy enough to catch her mid-way.

- Can't wish you the same, sir. Would you please be so kind to explain me, your medic, the reason you're exhausting your body by keeping awake for several night straight? I've also noticed our coffee supply to diminish at an alarming rate, and am not happy about it - it's too much a strain to the...
- Dorne, - her voice came out too tired, - I just... I can't sleep.

The blond raised one eyebrow with an ironic stare:

- You don't mean you suffer from insomnia, are you? I don't think that the case. So what is it really?

Commander rubbed her eyes, estimating her chances to avoid the talk altogether. With her medic being this persistent - the crew's health and well-being are top priority and all that crap - the immediate future looked bleak at best. Whatever even possessed Dorne to drop by the camboose at night...

- Hey, listen... It's okay, I'm all right and...

Dorne put her hands on her hips:

- Oh no you don't, sir. This quite a serious issue, and no matter how much you deny it, I can see something is wrong! And if by any chance it has anything to do with... erm, that matter we discussed the last time...

Her heart skipped a beat. Damn that... Sometimes her sergeant was way too clever for her own good; and it seemed she was adamant about getting answers. And assuming she drew the right conclusion...

Ohhh, bantha's shiiit...

- It's... complicated, but... fine, if you have time to spare, then follow me.

Commander headed for her cabin, medic treading hard at hand. Damn that... back luck sure does come in threes for good company - first Vik, then coffee, and now Dorne stuck like a leech...

- Well? - Dorne made an attack as soon as the cabin doors closed, and it seemed she'd take no prisoners.

Mirialan woman sat on the bed and massaged her temples:

- What do you want me to tell exactly?

The blond began ticking off on fingers:

- Firstly, I'd like to know how many nights you have been keeping awake. Secondly, I'd like to know what causes you to do so. I would be as bold as to assume it was you who gave our demolition expert that black eye. And it's not like I want to know anything more about it, but sir... if I may also assume that it has something to do with what you've told me before...

Brunette waved a tired hand to cut her off:

- Yeah, yeah, I get it that you ain't leaving me alone until you get the lowdown of me.

Medic took offence at that:

- But sir!..

Mirialan cut her off yet again and went on:

- Fine, I get it. You might as well give me some useful tip or the other. Truth be told, it's the first time that... I've got myself this deep in such a shithole, and that drives me mad.

Dorne sat down next to her all ears.

- I think that I haven't slept for... about five night already?.. But I'm not that sure myself. It's because I can't sleep, and no - the medic was about to interfere again, - It's not that I have insomnia that I can't sleep. I just don't want to fall asleep. As for the reason... damn... how should I put this...

She rubbed her face that seemed to set itself on fire with the mere thought of... her little problem. Bantha's shiiit...

- I mean... erm...

But the blond cut in gently:

- Should I assume... that it has something to do with your unusual reaction towards one particular member of our crew?

Brunette forced a nod, and blurted out without looking at the medic:

- You see... it really came out of nowhere, it's just... the next thing I know, something in my blasted brain goes click, and all of a sudden it registers the noise that comes out of his mouth... uhhh, I trust you get the picture...

Medic nodded, deep in thought:

- Oh... so you mean...
- What I mean is that it's keeping me awake! But the very worst part of it all, is that the scumbag is fully aware of the situation! And not only that, he's using it as he pleases - because imagine what, it entertains him! I... I really am sick and tired of it all. Sometimes I feel like killing him...

Dorne's eyes widened and she shook her head in disbelief:

- Oh... is that really so... Erm...

She went all thoughtful and quiet. Mirialan stared into the wall, a foul feeling wringing her guts out, and thought just when it all got out of control so badly she had to bitch about to one of her subordinates. Shame, what a howling shame...

Her sergeant's voice cut through the inner monologue:

- Um, sir... While I don't know how relevant what I'm to say is in your case... There was somebody I knew once... A co-worker, so to say. He was drawn to this one girl, who happened to be... should I say easy in her morals, and didn't reciprocate his feelings in the least, although she was well aware of his weakness and used it often. In the end, he decided to gamble and turn the tables around by treating her the same way she did him. If I remember correctly, that's how he gained her heart... but that's beside the point, - the medic added hastily, noting the way her commander jerked, - By no means I suggest you aim for the same goal, but... it must be the words that I remember him saying: "Two can play at this game". What I'm saying is... if the situation turns out to be unfavorable for you, how about you try to fight five with fire?

The brunette thought the idea over and shook her head:

- Oh, you sure know how to make the mind boggle... But you know... that's an interesting idea. I will... think about it. Thank you, Dorne.

The medic smiled:

- At your service, sir, - she stood up to take her leave, but at the very door she turned around and warned, - But it is unhealthy to keep awake all night!

Elara left and the door closed behind her, leaving commander to mull over what the blond medic had told her.

It's not that Mirialan wanted any... reciprocation... Force forbid that - the very thought made her cringe. Even imagining the... Weequay... being infatuated... nope, that just can't happen.

But to try and give him the taste of his own medicine... now that might be worth a shot. There was nothing to lose anyway - he had the game in his hands, so she could only gamble and come back at him somehow.

She smirked and fell on her bed. The game could promise to be... interesting.

***

- Anything else, si-ir? - that Weequay was grinning again, looking down at her. Damn him and his bloody height!.. She pursed her lips, feeling how his voice made her body tense. Damn the bastard, playing dirty again, damn him... Aaaarrrgh, to hell with it all!

She took a second to close her eyes and compose herself. When she opened them, she met Weequay's unnerving stare with defiance:

- No, that'd be all. On a second thought, though... - she looked him up and down, as if contemplating some thing or the other, - ... hm, no, I guess not after all. Dismissed.

With the last comment she turned around and left, feeling a rather dumbfounded stare of one Weequay on her back.

Ohhh, the sweet payback... Turns out it's true that two can play at this game. You wanted to make war, I'll give you one hell of a war. And don't you even hope to win again, you asshole...