A/N: PAC = Personal Air Craft, VIS = Vehicle Identification Signal, HUD = Head's Up Display
Communicating:
Federal Department of Air Traffic Control, Canadian West Coast Office.
"Hey, Boss! We've got a couple of pushy NASA transports wanting to cross into B.C.!" a tech yelled across the massive room filled with busy workers, floating computer screens, and roughly a hundred cups of coffee in various stages of warmth and expiration.
The man in question grunted as he frowned at his computer screen, fighting with the headache also known as digital paperwork. "Did they say what for?!" he yelled back with only a little less volume as the room quieted suddenly.
"They say that they tracked a piece of satellite debris falling into our Coastal Mountain area and wish to retrieve it."
Boss frowned harder. "I highly doubt that, but possible, I suppose. Did they give coordinates?"
The tech rattled off a set of coordinates that caught the attention of another tech.
"Hey! I just sent a patrol unit that way! I tracked a PAC with no Canadian VIS landing in that area. I figured it was another American poacher after our game."
Boss scowled. "Something tells me it's not a hunter if NASA wants it. I'm calling the Air Force. They can deal with this. In the meantime, stall the pushy NASA geeks as long as you can and call that patrol unit and tell them something fishy's going on. Tell them to use their discretion, but they might want to hang back for now."
"Yes, Boss."
Never Too High Stables
Rex leaned back against the tank of the toilet, arms crossing over his chest as a grin grew on his face. Watching Cody finally meet a female that caught his attention was very sweet indeed. Rex hadn't liked being the only brother who couldn't get a female out of his head, and now he saw that might be changing in a hurry, if the look the two were exchanging was anything to go by.
But Cody didn't go and very stupidly fall for his Jedi Commander, did he?
Rex's grin faded as he thought of Ahsoka and realized that he might never see her again. What will I have to live for if I don't get to bask in her concerned touches when I'm hurt? Or those long battles where she falls asleep on my shoulder afterwards on the ride back up to the Resolute? What if I never hear her melodious voice again, calling me Rexi?
Shab, I miss her already.
Well, I already missed her, because she wasn't on Seelos with us, but this is worse. I don't know where I am and I don't know if I'm ever getting back.
Even if we do get our Y-Wing working again, there's no guarantee the wormhole will still be there when we do. And what if it is and we fly into it only to be spit out somewhere else entirely? Or what if it's gone and we try to fly home and end up starving to death because home is too far away and we run out of fuel before we get there?
Shabla hell, now I'm making myself depressed.
Rex shook it off with determination, focusing on the other two again, his lips twitching back upwards because they were still staring at each other in fascinated wonder.
Leaning forward, he peered around the vanity and found Artoo watching the drama unfold as well. He nodded his chin at the couple with a smirk and an eye roll. The astro chirped out a soft laugh, in complete understanding of what they were witnessing. "Master Kenobi is not going to be impressed," he beeped merrily, clearly looking forward to witnessing such a thing.
Rex laughed. So am I.
Cody and the young woman never even noticed, and that was even funnier.
Tezza was utterly captivated by the cosplayer's golden brown eyes. It was like the entire universe lived in their depths and he could see straight into her soul. She couldn't look away. Her entire focus was on them. The rest of the world faded away and it was just her and the handsome, wannabee soldier standing in a blank space in some alternate reality.
It was thrilling.
And terrifying.
In all of her nineteen years she'd never felt like this before. Not even close. I feel like I'm in a movie; like I'm the heroine falling for the badass, scarred and visibly weary, but still oh so handsome war hero.
The thought was enough to jolt her out of her stunned state.
What? That's ridiculous. Love at first sight isn't really a thing. He's just really hot, that's all. I don't even know what he's like under that costume. He could be a serial killer or a complete slob or covered in hair like a werewolf or dumber than a box of rocks.
Get a grip, girl!
Tezza blinked and tore her gaze from his. She looked down at the floor as she took stock of her racing heart and suddenly sweaty state and scoffed at herself again. I've definitely lost it. Pull yourself together!
So she did, sucking in a deliberately slow breath.
Twice.
Then, she glanced up at the man who was still gazing at her with curious eyes that looked highly intelligent, belying one of her fears. Oh, god, stop looking at me like that!
Say something. I should say something. So, ignoring the fact that he didn't understand English, she mumbled, "I'm sorry, that was rude. I don't know where my head went." As an escape, she knelt and dug out the first aid kit from under the sink and put it on the counter beside their incredibly realistic looking helmets. They'd somehow managed to make their entire armour sets look like they'd gone through a war or ten with scoring, scratches, and dents. They would definitely win Best Costume at Comic-Con. The one playing Rex even has the weld lines in his mishmashed Phase 1 and 2 armour.
Opening the kit, she pulled out a small tube of NewSkin cream and a bandaid big enough to cover the gash on the sitting soldier's temple that would protect the wound until the cream finished healing it within the next two hours or so. Then she looked at the one who was still watching her with those insides-melting eyes and was about to say 'here, this is for your brother,' when the bemused look on his face recalled to her the lack of verbal communication available. Sighing, she put the items back down and turned on the tap to wash her hands of horse dirt before she touched the injury.
Then she sidled past the Hottest-Male-She'd-Ever-Seen's big body in the miniscule space, holding her breath the whole time. They brushed bodies anyway, and her insides nearly jumped with joy as tingles shot through her from head to toe. Eeep! "I'll just… take care of this, shall I?" she said for the sake of filling in the somewhat awkward silence, tearing her eyes off of Mr. Hotty to look at the other one. Meeting the obviously dyed (brown eyebrows) blond's eyes, she smiled when he gave a little nod of approval for her to doctor him.
Cody watched the girl take care of his brother with delicate care, putting a cream on his wound and then covering it with a bandage. And the whole time, Rex was talking to him with his eyes, flicking towards the girl with a knowing smirk dancing in them. Cody could practically hear him saying, 'Look, look! You found yourself a GIRL!'
Cody scowled back, crossing his arms over his chest and shook his head minutely to say, 'Don't read too much into it, vod.'
Rex just grinned back and looked extra smug, the bastard.
"Just cause you're hurt doesn't mean I won't wipe the floor with you if you don't remove that look off your face, vod," Cody growled out loud, giving up on getting his point across with nonverbal glaring.
Rex barked out a laugh. "Oh, yeah. That'll make a good impression with your new girlfriend, there."
"She's not my…!"
"She's watching you," Rex cut him off. "And standing right there."
Cody snapped his jaw shut with a clack of teeth and turned his focus back on the girl, an unwitting, bashful smile spreading across his face as he took in her amused raised eyebrow. He shrugged a little and said, "My brothers were unfortunately genetically engineered to be a pain in my shebs." (Mostly for Rex's benefit, since he knew the girl didn't understand Basic or Mando'a.)
Rex snorted, cackling under his breath. "I'm telling everyone you said that when we get back."
"Please do." I'll enjoy the extra sparring time.
And then Cody got lost in her brilliant blue and gold eyes again. Force, they're pretty. She's pretty. So pretty.
"Ya know, you could try introductions. That doesn't need a language to get your point across."
Cody almost jumped when Rex said that right in his ear, not even noticing that his brother had stood up and crowded right into his space. Cody felt a little lost for the first time in his life, since he should have figured that out on his own. And he definitely should have sensed Rex moving. What's wrong with me? "Right. Good idea."
Tezza turned around after she finished patching up Blondie and immediately encountered Hottie's ferocious scowl. But it wasn't for her, apparently, since he appeared to be having a silent confab with his widely smiling twin. It made her think that twin telepathy really was a thing despite all of the scientific experiments that had attempted to prove otherwise. She wished she could read their minds, because she was dying of curiosity to know what was going on in their heads.
And then they started bickering out loud, and even though she didn't understand the words, the tone was apparent enough to make her smile. She had a pretty good idea that Blondie was teasing Hottie about their mutual gawking session.
Hottie looked at her again, smiling in a way that made her insides turn to butterfly filled jello again, but kept up the banter with his twin for a bit. Tezza was in the process of wondering what Hottie's velvety deep voice would sound like in the midst of an intimate encounter when he cleared his throat pointedly, catching her external focus again.
Tezza fought back a blush at her naughty thoughts as she tilted her head slightly when he put his hand on his chest and very clearly said, "Cody," while looking at her hopefully. Then he touched his brother's shoulder and said, "Rex."
She nearly snorted out loud. Of course they would go with their cosplay names. People that enmeshed in their rolls would. Fine. We'll go with that. Trying to get their real names out of them will be too complicated anyway.
And then he touched her shoulder with one of his large and strong looking hands and Tezza's normal breathing pattern paused for a moment. Oh, god. He touched me! Look at those long fingers. They can touch me anywhere, anytime.
What the hell are you talking about?! her conscience screamed at her. Get a bloody grip! We do not jump strangers! Just tell him your name and get out of this bathroom before we run out of air!
But he's so handsome. And he's figured out how to break the communication barrier. I want him.
You're hopeless.
Shut up. I'm answering him now, and smiling while I do it, whether you like it or not.
Her conscience gave up the brief battle.
Cody could practically feel her vibrating with… something… when he briefly touched her shoulder ever so lightly and waited in patient silence for her to contribute to the round of names. She looked down at his hand and he could swear he saw her pupils dilate. Frag. Now I want to touch her some more and see if I was right.
Bad Cody! Stop lusting after the girl! We're going home as soon as possible and I refuse to start something I could never finish.
And then the short and pleasingly curved girl beamed brilliantly up at him, transforming her features from very pretty to simply stunning. Cody's heart and brain basically short circuited. And then her sweet and soothing voice said, "Tezza. My name is Tezza. And you're Cody." She glanced to his right and continued with, "And he's Rex."
Cody felt himself returning her wide smile. "Tezza," he repeated, just to double check that he'd signaled out the correct word from the many that she'd spoken. It was a pretty name, just like her. He liked it, even as the dutiful part of him whispered that it shouldn't matter one way or the other.
She nodded quickly in affirmation while saying, "Yes."
Cody quickly grasped onto something that should be easy to interpret. He repeated her motion and said, "Yes?"
Tezza blinked at the question mark at the end of his yes, taking a couple of seconds to realize that he was asking if yes meant yes. Is he trying to learn English? Because if that's the case, I'm more than willing to help him. In whatever way he wants.
Slut, her conscience whispered.
I thought I told you to shut up.
She nodded again and very clearly said, "Yes." Then she shook her head and said, "No." Nodded. "Yes." Shook. "No."
Cody grunted in approval that she'd caught on quickly. Maybe she's just as smart as she is pretty. That would be good. And that made something inside him take even that much more notice of her. That something had paws and prowled the night and growled possessively as it stalked inside him like a predator as it circled its intended mate with clear intent. Cody banished the disturbing mental image as he repeated her words, feeling out the unfamiliar sounds and committing them to memory.
Rex was practically falling over himself in the effort not to burst into laughter. Stars, they're so funny, staring at each other like a simple bit of clever translation is the hottest thing ever. "Great, Cody, you've established a real basis for communication, there," he teased. "I can just see you two out on your first date now; being all, yes, no, yes, no."
Cody swiveled his head and glared at his brother. "Will you give it up already? I'm not here to go on dates. We have to work with the people of this planet if there's even a chance of our ever getting home. Or don't you want to see your not so secret crush again?"
Rex gulped and sobered quickly, an image of Ahsoka's very worried beautiful sky blue eyes flashing into his mind. How the kriff does he know about that? "Sorry. And you know I do. I don't know how you figured out that Ahsoka's my everything, but you're right."
"Of course I'm right. I'm always right." Cody smirked for a moment before sobering as he saw the utter misery hidden in the depths of his brother's eyes and he realized that Rex had just been trying to distract himself from the reality of their situation with some simple teasing. He grasped Rex's shoulder tightly on the side not covered by the flared blue pauldron. "I'm sorry, vod. I vow that I'm going to do whatever is necessary to return you to her."
Rex grabbed Cody's shoulder in return and smiled wanly. "I know you will. That's why you're the Commander; you have never thought of yourself first. But maybe, this time, you could perhaps spare a moment or two and just appreciate the gift the Force has put in front of you?"
Cody flicked his eyes to the girl who was once again watching them with patient curiosity before he sighed heavily as he turned his gaze back to Rex's. "We'll see."
Rex's face split into a real smile again. "I'm calling that a yes."
Cody just rolled his eyes and let go of his brother, returning his focus to the girl and giving her an apologetic smile. He wished she knew Basic so he could tell her how sorry he was for Rex's uncouth interruptions.
Tezza basically got the idea anyway. She could tell that the brothers were teasing, but also worried. Who wouldn't be after crashing their Y-Wing lookalike in a place where they didn't know the language?
Deciding that they'd been smushed into the small space that was never meant for three long enough, Tezza waved her hand towards the door and said, "Come on." And then she walked out, past the curious robot.
Cody and Rex got the idea, grabbing up their helmets and gloves and following the girl as she walked down the wide hallway of the tidy barn. Some sort of upbeat music filled the silence rather enthusiastically and a couple of tooka-like creatures, one a sleek black and white, and the other a fluffy bright orange, wound around their feet with curious trills.
"Friendly critters," Rex mumbled as he shuffled his step to avoid stepping on the black one.
Tezza paused and looked over her shoulder, smiling at the sight of the curious cats greeting the men who had a robot following them like a faithful dog. She knelt down and held out her hands until the cats walked under them to stroke their backs. "Domino," she said to the men, indicating the black and white male, and then, "Tangy," she added, smiling at the orange female cat.
The men copied her gesture and words, smiling as they petted the cats for a few seconds, 'Rex' pulling off his gloves too so he could feel the soft fur. She beamed at them, pleased as could be that they got on well with animals, because it was rather important to her that at least 'Cody' did. I guess calling him Cody is better than calling him Hottie. Wouldn't that be embarrassing if I said it out loud once he knew what the word meant?
She stood again and continued to where she'd left CeCe cross tied in the tack up stall, the armoured men following her. She rubbed her horse's face, following the white stripe that ran the length of his head from between the eyes to the top of his muzzle. Her horse nuzzled into her hand, looking for cookies, as she looked at the men. "CeCe. This is CeCe." I bet they'd think it was hilarious if they knew I named him after Cody.
"CeCe," Cody repeated obediently as he admired the big reddish brown animal that had a shiny coat of short fur and black hair running down its neck and in a tail at the back end. "Handsome beast," he commented to Rex.
Rex nodded. "Sure beats some of the butt ugly riding animals we've been stuck planting our shebs on."
Cody laughed. "For sure. They lucked out on this planet. I wonder if they have vehicles or if they only ride beasts? How advanced do you think their tech is?"
Rex nodded to Tezza's arm as she picked up a rubber brush to scrub off the already dry sweat marks from the saddle and girth area. "That looks like a wrist computer to me. It's just not attached to a vambrace like we're used to seeing."
"I think you're right. Maybe the animals are for pleasure rather than necessity. This one does seem to be quite pampered."
They watched as the girl gave the animal a treat from a bin full of them attached to the wall and Rex chuckled. "Definitely pampered."
When the men stopped commenting about who knew what in their language and silence reigned for a minute, Tezza waved her rubber curry around, using it as a pointer for the them, figuring their language lesson could continue. She pointed at herself and said, "Human," then pointed at each of the men and repeated it. Then she pointed at CeCe and said, "Horse." Then she pointed at the felines that were now circling the robot with cautious curiosity. "Cat." Then she went back to work brushing her horse, while keeping an eye on the men to see if they were as smart as they looked.
Cody followed her pointing and words. It only took him a couple of seconds to figure it out. He pressed his hand to his chestplate and grinned. "Cody human." Pointed at Rex. "Rex human." Pointed at the girl grooming her animal. "Tezza human. CeCe horse. Domino cat. Tangy cat."
Tezza gave him another brilliant smile filled with even white teeth that practically made his head swim. "Yes."
Cody gave Rex a smug smirk, feeling like he'd just passed the hardest training test at Kamino. "Did you get that, vod?"
Rex snorted, rolling his eyes. "Of course. What do you take me for? A just hatched shiny?"
Cody returned his snort. Then he called for Artoo to roll a little closer, making the horse blow out a loud huff via its nostrils and bug its big brown eyes out slightly.
"Easy, stupid," Tezza said reassuringly and pushed him back as he shifted unthinkingly towards her with his big hooves. "You've seen the robot before."
Cody touched the astromech's dome and clearly said, "Artoo," and then looked at the girl expectantly.
"R2," Tezza repeated, not even remotely surprised at the name they gave their robot. She received a whistle and a beep from the droid that she took for a hello. Which, of course, made CeCe snort again, backing as far away from the robot as he could within the confines of his ties. Shaking her head at her chicken of a horse, Tezza then looked at Cody and Artoo. "Artoo robot."
"Robot," Cody repeated, nodding to himself.
"Or droid," she added, with a thoughtful look. "I think robots were called droids in the Star Wars universe.
Cody just looked at her with confusion, too many new words for him to follow any of it.
Sighing, she started to try explaining better when the robot swivelled his dome suddenly and beeped out, "There are two more organics coming this way, and they appear to be sneaking, based on their rate of pace."
"What did it say?" Tezza asked curiously, before realizing that the men wouldn't be able to answer her, and that they'd both suddenly tensed and started moving in a near blur.
"Wait! What's happening?!" she called after them as they dashed down the hallway and towards the front door.