Chapter Six

After returning to Redemption, Crystal walked into the recovery ward to visit Aerick. As the door opened, Crystal was apprehensive. She really didn't know why, either. After all, he was her CO and she's served under several. None of them ever made her feel apprehensive. So why was it different with Captain Needa?

"Oh, hello Commander Sandskimmer," Aerick said, smiling at her as she walked in and sat down at the chair that was next to his bed. "I just got out of the tank a few minutes ago."

"I thought you were supposed to get an eight hour dunk."

"I was. But, there were a few people with more severe injuries than I had. They gave me a few bacta patches to use. While not quite as good as a good dunk in a bacta tank, they do the job."

"Yeah. I noticed your wounds look a lot better."

"They don't hurt anymore. I'm almost healed. In fact, the medics are saying that I can re-qualify tomorrow if I feel up to it."

"Do you feel up to it?" Crystal asked.

"Is that a trace of melancholy I hear in your voice?"

"Sir?"

"It sounds like you want to retain command of the squadron," Aerick clarified.

"Oh, no sir! I always thought I wanted to be CO of a squadron. I worked as hard as I could so that I would be in consideration. But, after today, I learned that being CO is just not in the cards for me. I…it's just too much responsibility for me right now."

"I can understand probably better than you know, Commander."

"Yeah, I thought you would, sir."

"Please, don't be afraid to call me Aerick."

"Oh, right. And I prefer to be called Crystal rather than Commander." Crystal smiled, then stifled her smile as soon as she realized she was grinning like a fool.

"You have a beautiful smile, Crystal. I don't know why you don't show it more often."

"I just don't have a lot to smile about I guess." She looked down at her hands, then looked back up as Aerick started talking again.

"Why not? There are lots of things to smile about."

"Yeah, sure. Like the fact that my family has to work harder than most to eke out a living on Tatooine. The fact that we're waging a war against an implacable enemy."

"You can smile about the fact that you're still alive. After all, most starfighter pilots have a life expectancy that can be measured in days. You can smile about that fact that, as a Jedi, you are respected wherever you go."

"Yeah, and I guess I can smile about the fact that I'm still single too, huh?" Crystal asked, heavy sarcasm evident in her voice.

"Why so bitter?"

"That's none of your business."

"But, as your CO, it IS my business. Your happiness, your morale, there ARE my responsibilities."

"My morale is fine. My happiness is not even an issue here."

"Oh really? If your morale is so high, why are you so glum? Why are you so cynical about everything?"

"I know what you're trying to do, and it won't work," Crystal glared at Aerick.

"Is that so? And just what is it that I'm trying to do?"

"You're trying to get me mad, to release my anger and try to relax."

"What's so bad about that?" Aerick asked.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because I need an XO who isn't so tightly wound that she lets every little thing bother her. I need a reliable XO and I don't have one. At least, not yet."

"I see. You think I'm unstable. You think I can't get the job done."

"That's right! I do think that. You need to stop storing up your emotions. Talk to your squadmates, take up a hobby. Do something that focuses your energy and relaxes you. Otherwise, I'll have to relieve you of your position."

"I see. I knew it would be a mistake to come here. You don't understand," Crystal stood up and turned to walk out of the room. Aerick arose from his bed and placed his hand on Crystal's shoulder.

"Walk out of this room and you will be relieved of duty," Aerick's voice turned cold. "You've had your tantrum and now it's time to act like an adult."

"How dare you," Crystal growled. "How dare you treat me like a child." If she could glare laser bolts, she would've struck Aerick down. "You don't know what I've been through."

"And if I did? Would I be able to excuse this kind of behavior? You're acting like a two-year old!"

"It's my right to act any way I please!"

"And I'm telling you that, as my XO, I expect, no, I require you to act like a civilized being!"

"So now, you're telling me I'm uncivilized?"

"If that's all you're hearing when I say I need my XO to act like an adult, then yes, that's exactly what I'm saying." Aerick turned around and sat down on the bed. "You told me that it was a mistake to come here and I couldn't understand something."

"Yeah, I said something like that. What about it?"

"As your CO, I want to know what you're talking about."

"That's none of your business."

"Look, Crystal, I'm on a need to know basis and I need to know! What the hell happened to you that has you blowing up at every little thing. What is it that's bothering you?"

"I told you, it's none of…"

"You finish that sentence, you finish your career in Starfighter Command. This is not a request, Commander. This is an order. Tell me what is bothering you. Now."

"You can't intimidate me. I am a Jedi Knight."

"You are a Jedi Kid. Your behavior is unacceptable. Now, I'm only going to repeat this one more time. Tell me what it is that's bothering you or I will relieve you of your position and your flight status." As Aerick spoke, Crystal clenched her fists and a fire raged in her eyes. Aerick felt an ethereal grip start to solidify around his throat.

"That's right," Aerick rasped. "Throw your Jedi tantrum. Give in to your hate and kill me." He tried to draw a breath and fell to his knees. Spots appeared before his eyes, heralding anoxia. "You're not a Jedi Knight," He gasped. "You're…Sith…" He collapsed to the floor as Crystal released her Force grip as gasped in horror.

As Aerick blacked out, he heard Crystal cry out in anguish at her actions and scream "MEDIC!" out the door. Then, he passed out.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I gotta stop doing this, Aerick thought as he swam towards consciousness. His head was pounding and his throat felt like sandpaper. His legs felt like rubber and his chest felt tight, making it hard for him to breathe. A moment later, he felt something cold and damp wiping his forehead. He heard a pair of voices talking quietly, too quietly for him to understand. He also heard another voice, closer and female, singing gently.

Note to self, never, ever piss off a Jedi on purpose again. That was definitely not fun. Aerick promised himself. He opened his eyes a little, then groaned as the brightness of the lights stabbed deep into his eyes, intensifying his headache.

"Aerick?" The singing female voice asked. Man, doesn't this woman have anything better to do than sit over me all the time? Aerick asked himself.

"Tell those Wookiees that I'm never, ever going to another of their parties."

"Wookiees?" Crystal asked. "Are you calling me a Wookiee?"

"And here she goes taking everything personal again. Forgive me, Commander. This is the last thing I need."

"You're right. I wanted to tell you I'm sorry."

"Is that so? Commander, do you have any idea what you did before?"

"I do. And, it was inexcusable. And I understand it if you want me out of the squadron."

"Commander, you seem to insist on misinterpreting everything I say. Do you know why I provoked you yesterday?"

"No, sir, I honestly don't. I was wondering that myself."

"I provoked you like that because I wanted you to release tension and to get you to stop bottling up your emotions."

"Well, I'd say your plan backfired."

"No Sith. Now, let me ask you something. Do you know why you reacted the way you did?"

"I was mad."

"No, you weren't mad. You were irate. You were in a murderous rage! Do you realize that you almost killed me?"

"No…" Crystal's voice trembled. "I…" Aerick saw tears welling up in her eyes. "I didn't mean it, honestly!" Her voice sounded like it was made of brittle glass, ready to shatter.

"I know you didn't mean it. And I'm sorry to have put you in that situation."

"I almost killed…my CO." She took a deep, ragged breath. "Why did you do that to me?" She started to ball her fists in anger again.

"Crystal, you need to calm down."

"I…I can't! I almost killed you!"

"I know. And I'm sorry I did that to you."

"I don't want to kill you, honest! I would never kill you! I…"

"I know. I know what you're feeling."

"How could you know? You've never…" Crystal glared at him as tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"You're right. I've never been in your position before."

"So you know intellectually what I'm going through, but not through any experience of your own. That's not the same, Captain. I don't expect you to understand what I've been through. I just ask that you not insult me with your pretend sympathy."

"Well, I'm sorry if my 'pretend' sympathy is an insult. I just wanted to let you know that I'm here for you to talk to. About anything that's bothering you."

"Then why didn't you say that in the first place?" Crystal asked, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

"I don't know. I should've. And I'm sorry." Aerick sat up and looked into Crystal's eyes. He could see more tears welling up in her eyes. He gently brushed his hand across her cheek. As he did so, she closed her eyes, cherishing his caress and causing a tear to roll down her cheek. A moment later, she gripped his hand with hers and opened her eyes.

"Aerick, I'm the one who should apologize. After all, I almost killed you." She looked down at her hands and started squeezing her wrists. Aerick stood up and placed himself in front of Crystal, looking deep into her eyes. Crystal flushed as she realized what Aerick's intentions were, then gave a slight nod. Crystal wrapped her arms around him, placing her hands on his waist, pulling him close and resting her head on his shoulder. She reveled in the feeling of his body pressed against hers. A moment later, she picked her head off his shoulder and drank in the color of his green eyes. She closed her eyes and cautiously, gently pressed her lips against his. Aerick hesitated at first, then responded to the touch of her lips, encircling her in his arms. He poured his entire being into the kiss, feeling Crystal respond to his passion. She placed one of her hands on the back of his head, trying to pull him closer. She flicked her tongue against his, reveling in the ripple of pleasure that radiated off of Aerick. She felt the spark of passion she was feeling inside start to flare up. She was surprised by the feeling and she broke the kiss, taking a step back and bringing her hand up to touch her lips.

"Did we just do what I think we did?" Crystal asked, simultaneously shocked and aroused.

"I think so," Aerick replied, taking a half-step towards Crystal. At that moment, Crystal realized that the passion she had been feeling wasn't her own; it was Aerick's!

"Captain, I think…" Aerick placed a finger on her lips, silencing her. He leaned in close and pressed his lips against hers. Crystal hesitated, preparing to push him away. As Aerick drew his lips across Crystal's, she felt a ripple of pleasure run along her spine. She wrapped her arms around Aerick's waist and pulled him closer, relishing the feel of Aerick's body against hers.

As the pair kissed, Aerick brought his arms up from his side and moved his hands under Crystal's shirt. As his fingers brushed her navel, Crystal gasped and broke their kiss. She moved Aerick's hands out from under her shirt.

"This is wrong," She protested. She straightened out her shirt and took a step backwards. "I have to go," She turned around and walked out. Aerick slapped his forehead as she left. Smooth, Aerick. Real smooth.