Cole had gone into Torque Highport expecting his business there to consist entirely of a hell of boredom, interrupted perhaps by a hell of danger. Getting to turn a certain Sith murglak into a pile of ash while remaining at a comfortable distance was a very welcome surprise, so much so that he wasn't much bothered by Kaevee's Jedi squeamishness. He had thrown her a bone, given her a chance to enjoy something with him, and she hadn't taken it. Her loss, he decided. Her problem.
As they sat together in the cockpit, running through the pre-launch check together, Cole was still determined to wring whatever pleasure he still could out of this mission. He savored the feeling of the pilot's chair beneath him, the sense of control as his hands played across the instruments, letting it all remind him that running thankless suicide missions for the Republic wasn't going to be the rest of his life.
Sooner or later I'll get off this crate. Just got to stay alive, and sooner or later I'll get my chance...
From the other station Kaevee reported that the Ebon Hawk's guns were online, including the antipersonnel belly cannon. Still half-absorbed in his anticipations, Cole grunted a thank-you. With eyes fixed on a readout that showed power trickling into the repulsorlifts and the sublights, he imagined them humming in anticipation.
I'll get my chance. Frack the admiral, frack the Republic. Atton made me a promise. Nobody's gonna miss me, and that's the way I like it.
They were taking their time warming the ship up—didn't want to tip anyone off—but their caution hardly seemed necessary. Ecksee was still keeping an infrared receptor out on the docking bay. From its report, there was just the one attendant picking his nose in the control booth, and people occasionally running past in the hall outside.
When there was nothing left to do, Cole leaned back, frowning as the feeling of reverie slipped through his grasp like water.
"There's nothing from them on the com..."
He cut his gaze to Kaevee—carefully, as he would to a sleeping tuk'ata, or to a munitions container full of raw nergon-14 balanced on top of a toothpick. "Don't even think about it," he said in a low voice. Each turned in their chairs to face each other.
"Think about what?"
"I said don't."
"What?!"
"We are not going anywhere. Either of us." Cole pointed to her, then himself. "You and me, we're gonna stay right here, enjoying each other's company... Okay, I'm kidding about the last part."
The look she gave him said, I wish I could step on you like the kag bug you are, but he could handle that. It wasn't the worst he'd gotten from a woman that standard week, let alone in his lifetime.
"Whatever's going on, they can handle it," he continued. "It's their plan, they know what they're—"
"Actually, this was your idea."
"Yeah, and it's going great so far. So don't get any stupid ideas about Jedi heroics, or stars help me—"
"I'm not, okay?! I'm not having any stupid ideas!" Kaevee's fingers dug into her armrests like she wanted to rip them off the co-pilot's chair. Then, shaking with restraint, she got to her feet. "I'm going to watch the hangar with Ecksee. Do you need me here? Can you let me out of your sight?"
Damn stupid crazy chuff-sucking skrag-eating space-happy little—
A kilometer-long stream of choice expressions and epithets thrashed around inside Cole's throat, and he clenched his jaw hard to hold it in as he endured Kaevee's outburst. Atton hadn't told him it was his job to keep her out of trouble—and even if he had, then frack him. It was out of Cole's league.
Besides, if the kid had learned a damn thing from Malachor, it was up to her to prove it.
He spread his hands. "Hey, hey, go right ahead! Don't let me bother you. Go keep the droid company, whatever. If there's any trouble, just holler. I'll be right here."
She stormed out of the cockpit without another word. Swiveling his chair back around, Cole glared out the viewport, half-expecting to see her charging for the docking bay exit.
"It's not up to me. It's not my problem," he muttered aloud—and he kept muttering it until he believed himself.
