Inevitable {Tech}

Chapter Sixteen: Shaeeah & Jek

"Yeah, you both are like, crazy smart," Shaeeah continued, and glanced at Cass. Cass' eyes were glazed over with something Shaeeah recognized from the way her mother looked at her father. "I bet you guys really enjoy being together," she subtly pushed on with a smirk.

Cass' eyes drifted closed as she wrapped an arm around Jek and held him securely in place. She hummed tiredly and nodded. "Yeah we do. He's...he's really great."

"I bet he misses you." Shaeeah held back a giddy cheer and bit her lip. "Do you miss him?"

Even in her sleepy state, she couldn't miss the tone in Shaeeah's voice. She rolled her head away from Jek and peeked her eyes open to squint suspiciously at the Twi'lek.

"I think it's time for bed," Cass sighed and pulled Jek to her chest. She scooped him into her arms and drowsily stood up.

"Ah come on!" Shaeeah laughed and threw her hands up, quickly scurrying behind Cass as they wandered back into the hut.

"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to," Cass mumbled quietly.

Shaeeah shut the door behind her and bounced on her heels. "I knew it!" she cheerfully whispered and clenched a fist.

Cass only shook her head and ignored the girl's cheers. She gently sat down on Jek's bed with her back against the headboard. She shifted and repositioned so Jek was wrapped around her like an infant ewok. He stirred in his sleep until his ear was right against her chest again, then his body settled and relaxed.

"Are you going to stay here?" Shaeeah whispered and stood at the foot of the bed.

"I haven't been sleeping well lately, so if it's alright with you, yes. I would like to stay here instead," Cass pleaded in the silence of the night and stroked Jek's back.

Shaeeah nodded. "Don't worry, you'll sleep good here. And Jek is like a little heater when he sleeps."

"Good, because I'm always cold," she chuckled softly and leaned against the headboard.

Shaeeah tucked herself into the adjacent bed and buried her face into her pillow. "Goodnight Cass," she mumbled and Cass almost didn't catch it.

Cass closed her eyes and listened to Jek's calming breaths. She hummed softly against his head, feeling a high of contentment melt into her body. "Goodnight."

. . . . . .

Cass woke up to a bright Saleucami sun and Shaeeah prodding her side gently. She wasn't happy to be woken up in such a way, but it was much better than the cold sweat that routinely occurred instead. She contorted under Jek's sprawled body and pushed his foot out of her face. She rubbed her eyes and grabbed Shaeeah's hand to stop the repetitive poking.

"What?" she murmured and sat up slowly.

"Your comm hasn't stopped blinking," Shaeeah pointed to the device on Cass' wrist.

When she looked down, it indeed was blinking quickly. She counted the long and short flashes, deciphering it as it blipped. She furrowed her brows and sat up straighter.

This was Tech's signal.

She interacted with the signal and raised the comm to her lips. "Tech?"

"Cassiopeia," his crackled voice spoke softly after a moment. Even through the speaker, his voice caused a chill to run down her spine. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and this time she didn't even need a force connection to get that reaction out of her.

"Is something wrong? Where are you?" she bit her bottom lip and rubbed her palm.

"It's...complicated. We will explain everything when we land on Saleucami."